What if eggs could be collected before they mature and developed outside the body, potentially reducing the medications, time and physical burden involved in conventional IVF?
In this episode of Knocked Up, fertility specialist Dr Raelia Lew is joined by CREI fertility specialist Dr Violet Kieu to explore in vitro maturation, known as IVM.
Unlike conventional IVF, where hormone injections are used to mature eggs inside the ovaries before collection, IVM involves retrieving immature eggs and completing part of the maturation process in the laboratory.
Raelia and Violet take listeners inside the Melbourne IVF CAPA-IVM study, explaining how the procedure works, who may be suited to it and why researchers are particularly interested in its potential for patients with high egg numbers.
In this episode
What in vitro maturation is and how it differs from IVF
Why conventional IVF commonly involves hormone injections
How immature eggs can be matured outside the body
Who may be eligible for the Melbourne IVF CAPA-IVM study
Why patients with high egg counts may benefit from IVM
IVM for people with PMOS
Reducing the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
How an IVM egg collection differs from a conventional IVF collection
The step-by-step process of maturing an egg in the laboratory
Why embryos created through IVM are frozen before transfer
The potential role of IVM in fertility preservation before chemotherapy
What international IVM research has shown so far
The limitations and unanswered questions surrounding IVM
Why age remains important when considering egg quality
The future of IVM and elective egg freezing
How fertility technologies move from scientific research into patient care
Episode timestamps
00:00 Could eggs be matured outside the human body?
02:23 Who may be a suitable candidate for IVM?
03:36 How an IVM egg collection works
07:54 IVM for patients with PMOS, PCOS or high egg numbers
12:50 Why IVM embryos must be frozen
16:37 Melbourne IVF message
19:11 What researchers hope to learn from the Melbourne study
24:02 Dr Violet Kieu’s journey into fertility medicine2
28:16 Could IVM change when people freeze their eggs?
About Dr Violet Kieu
Dr Violet Kieu is a fertility specialist at Melbourne IVF with specialist training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility.
She is involved in the Melbourne IVF CAPA-IVM study and has trained with international teams working in IVM research and clinical practice.
In this conversation, Violet explains both the scientific possibilities of IVM and the importance of carefully evaluating its safety, feasibility and effectiveness.
Resources and support
Learn more about fertility treatment, IVF and egg freezing through:
This episode of Knocked Up is proudly brought to you by Melbourne IVF - where world‑class science meets personalised fertility support.” For more information or to book an appointment visit www.mivf.com.au
The information discussed in this episode is general in nature and does not replace personalised medical advice. Eligibility for IVM, IVF or a clinical study depends on individual circumstances and must be discussed with a qualified fertility specialist.
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