The case for in vitro maturation lower cost and more patient friendly.

OBJECTIVE: To compare in vitromaturation (IVM) to conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) with a focus on what is required of patients in order to complete cycles, the differences in work required from the clinic providing the service, and the difference in the cost of cycles.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort-control study.

RESULTS: With IVM as compared to IVF: office visits were reduced by an average of 3.2, the number of venipunctures was decreased by an average of 4.5, transvaginal ultrasound examinations were decreased by an average of 2.3, the number of injections given by the patient to herself was decreased by an average of 48.7, the interval from starting gonadotropins to receiving hCG was decreased by an average of 4.6 days, the number of endocrine tests was reduced by an average of 11.4, the number of minutes required for oocyte retrieval was increased by an average of 20.1 minutes, and the number of intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedures increased by an average of 1.7, medication costs were decreased by an average of 91%, and the total cost of a cycle was reduced by an average of 45.9%.

CONCLUSION: Patient friendliness and cycle costs are clear advantages of IVM over conventional IVF.