Developmental capacity of in vitro-matured human oocytes retrieved from polycystic ovary syndrome ovaries containing no follicles larger than 6 mm

Objective: To test the developmental competence of oocytes in a nonhCG-triggered in vitro maturation (IVM) system when oocyte-cumulus complexes (OCC) are retrieved from antral follicles with a diameter of <6 mm. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Tertiary university-based referral center. Patient(s): From January 2010 to September 2011, 121 patients with polycystic ovaries/polycystic ovary syndrome underwent 239 IVM cycles in total. In 58 of these cycles (44 patients), all antral follicles had a diameter of <6 mm on the day of oocyte retrieval. Intervention(s): NonhCG-triggered IVM of oocytes, fresh or vitrified/warmed embryo transfer (ET). Main Outcome Measure(s): Oocyte diameter, maturation rate, fertilization rate, embryo development and morphology, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, ongoing pregnancy rate. Result(s): Oocyte retrieval yielded 16.7 OCC/cycle, and 50.8% of oocytes completed IVM. The mean oocyte diameter increased from 108.8 +/- 4.3 mu m to 111.9 +/- 4.1 mu m after IVM. Mean fertilization rate was 63.7%, and 45.4% of 2-pronuclei oocytes developed into a morphologically good-quality embryo on day 3 after intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Fresh ET resulted in two ongoing pregnancies (2/37; 5.4%). Deferred vitrified-warmed ET led to an ongoing pregnancy rate of 34.6% (9/24). Three healthy babies were born and eight pregnancies were still ongoing. Conclusion(s): Oocytes retrieved from follicles with a diameter of <6 mm grow during a 40-hour IVM culture can acquire full competence in vitro, as illustrated by their development into healthy offspring. Endometrial quality appears to be a crucial determinant of pregnancy after nonhCG-triggered IVM. (Fertil Steril (R) 2012;98:503-7. (C) 2012 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)