Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 8/2015

01-08-2015 | Fertility Preservation

In vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes recovered from ovariectomy specimens in the laboratory: a promising “ex vivo” method of oocyte cryopreservation resulting in the first report of an ongoing pregnancy in Europe

Authors: Ingrid Segers, Ileana Mateizel, Ellen Van Moer, Johan Smitz, Herman Tournaye, Greta Verheyen, Michel De Vos

Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics | Issue 8/2015

Login to get access

Abstract

Purpose

We present our center’s experience with 34 consecutive cases who underwent in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes obtained from ovariectomy specimens and compare our data with updated literature data.

Methods

Feasibility and efficiency of oocyte collection during ovarian tissue processing was assessed by the recovery rate, maturation rate, and embryological development after IVM.

Results

On average, 14 immature oocytes were retrieved per patient during ovarian tissue processing in 33/34 patients. The overall maturation rate after IVM was 36 %. The maturation rate correlated with the age of the patient and the duration of IVM. Predominately, oocyte vitrification was performed. Eight couples preferred embryo cryopreservation. Here, a 65 % fertilization rate was obtained and at least one good-quality day 3 embryo was cryopreserved in 7/8 couples. The retrieval of oocytes ex vivo resulted in mature oocytes or embryos available for vitrification in 79 % of patients. One patient with ovarian insufficiency following therapeutic embolization of the left uterine and the right ovarian artery because of an arteriovenous malformation had an embryo transfer of one good-quality warmed embryo generated after IVM ex vivo, which resulted in an ongoing clinical pregnancy.

Conclusions

IVM of oocytes obtained ex vivo during the processing of ovarian cortex prior to cryopreservation is a procedure with emerging promise for patients at risk for fertility loss, as illustrated by the reported pregnancy. However, more data are needed in order to estimate the overall success rate and safety of this novel approach.
Literature
1.
De Vos M, Smitz J, Woodruff TK. Fertility preservation in women with cancer. Lancet. 2014;384:1302–10.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Ovarian tissue cryopreservation: a committee opinion. Fertil Steril. 2014;101:1237–43.CrossRef
3.
Donnez J, Dolmans MM, Pellicer A, Diaz-Garcia C, Ernst E, Macklon KT, et al. Fertility preservation for age-related fertility decline. Lancet. 2015;385:506–7.CrossRefPubMed
4.
Revel A, Koler M, Simon A, Lewin A, Laufer N, Safran A. Oocyte collection during cryopreservation of the ovarian cortex. Fertil Steril. 2003;79:1237–9.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Revel A, Revel-Vilk S, Aizenman E, Porat-Katz A, Safran A, Ben-Meir A, et al. At what age can human oocytes be obtained? Fertil Steril. 2009;92:458–63.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Isachenko E, Rahimi G, Isachenko V, Nawroth F. In-vitro maturation of germinal-vesicle oocytes and cryopreservation in metaphase I/II: a possible additional option to preserve fertility during ovarian tissue cryopreservation. Reprod Biomed Online. 2004;8:553–7.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Huang JY, Buckett WM, Gilbert L, Tan SL, Chian RC. Retrieval of immature oocytes followed by in vitro maturation and vitrification: a case report on a new strategy of fertility preservation in women with borderline ovarian malignancy. Gynecol Oncol. 2007;105:542–4.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Huang JY, Tulandi T, Holzer H, Lau NM, Macdonald S, Tan SL, et al. Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue and in vitro matured oocytes in a female with mosaic Turner syndrome: Case Report. Hum Reprod. 2008;23:336–9.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Huang JY, Tulandi T, Holzer H, Tan SL, Chian RC. Combining ovarian tissue cryobanking with retrieval of immature oocytes followed by in vitro maturation and vitrification: an additional strategy of fertility preservation. Fertil Steril. 2008;89:567–72.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Gonzalez C, Devesa M, Boada M, Coroleu B, Veiga A, Barri PN. Combined strategy for fertility preservation in an oncologic patient: vitrification of in vitro matured oocytes and ovarian tissue freezing. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2011;28:1147–9.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
11.
Fasano G, Moffa F, Dechene J, Englert Y, Demeestere I. Vitrification of in vitro matured oocytes collected from antral follicles at the time of ovarian tissue cryopreservation. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2011;9:150.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
12.
Escriba MJ, Grau N, Escrich L, Novella-Maestre E, Sanchez-Serrano M. Spontaneous in vitro maturation of oocytes prior to ovarian tissue cryopreservation in natural cycles of oncologic patients. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2012;29:1261–5.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
13.
Imesch P, Scheiner D, Xie M, Fink D, Macas E, Dubey R, et al. Developmental potential of human oocytes matured in vitro followed by vitrification and activation. J Ovarian Res. 2013;6:30.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
14.
Wilken-Jensen HN, Kristensen SG, Jeppesen JV, Yding AC. Developmental competence of oocytes isolated from surplus medulla tissue in connection with cryopreservation of ovarian tissue for fertility preservation. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2014;93:32–7.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Prasath EB, Chan ML, Wong WH, Lim CJ, Tharmalingam MD, Hendricks M, et al. First pregnancy and live birth resulting from cryopreserved embryos obtained from in vitro matured oocytes after oophorectomy in an ovarian cancer patient. Hum Reprod. 2014;29:276–8.CrossRefPubMed
16.
Takae S, Sugishita Y, Yoshioka N, Hoshina M, Horage Y, Sato Y, et al. The role of menstrual cycle phase and AMH levels in breast cancer patients whose ovarian tissue was cryopreserved for oncofertility treatment. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2015;32:305–12.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
17.
Shirasawa H, Kumagai J, Sato W, Kumazawa Y, Sato N, Terada Y. Retrieval and in vitro maturation of human oocytes from ovaries removed during surgery for endometrial carcinoma: a novel strategy for human oocyte research. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2013;30:1227–30.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
18.
Donnez J, Dolmans MM, Demylle D, Jadoul P, Pirard C, Squifflet J, et al. Livebirth after orthotopic transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue. Lancet. 2004;364:1405–10.CrossRefPubMed
19.
Imbert R, Moffa F, Tsepelidis S, Simon P, Delbaere A, Devreker F, et al. Safety and usefulness of cryopreservation of ovarian tissue to preserve fertility: a 12-year retrospective analysis. Hum Reprod. 2014;29:1931–40.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Rosendahl M, Greve T, Andersen CY. The safety of transplanting cryopreserved ovarian tissue in cancer patients: a review of the literature. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2013;30:11–24.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
21.
Bastings L, Beerendonk CC, Westphal JR, Massuger LF, Kaal SE, van Leeuwen FE, et al. Autotransplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue in cancer survivors and the risk of reintroducing malignancy: a systematic review. Hum Reprod Update. 2013;19:483–506.CrossRefPubMed
22.
Soares M, Saussoy P, Sahrari K, Amorim CA, Donnez J, Dolmans MM. Is transplantation of a few leukemic cells inside an artificial ovary able to induce leukemia in an experimental model? J Assist Reprod Genet. 2015;32:597–606.CrossRefPubMed
23.
Luyckx V, Dolmans MM, Vanacker J, Legat C, Fortuno Moya C, Donnez J, et al. A new step toward the artificial ovary: survival and proliferation of isolated murine follicles after autologous transplantation in a fibrin scaffold. Fertil Steril. 2014;101:1149–56.CrossRefPubMed
24.
25.
Meirow D, Levron J, Eldar-Geva T, Hardan I, Fridman E, Yemini Z, et al. Monitoring the ovaries after autotransplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue: endocrine studies, in vitro fertilization cycles, and live birth. Fertil Steril. 2007;87(418):e7–e15.PubMed
26.
Dolmans MM, Donnez J, Camboni A, Demylle D, Amorim C, Van Langendonckt A, et al. IVF outcome in patients with orthotopically transplanted ovarian tissue. Hum Reprod. 2009;24:2778–87.CrossRefPubMed
27.
Anderson RA, McLaughlin M, Wallace WH, Albertini DF, Telfer EE. The immature human ovary shows loss of abnormal follicles and increasing follicle developmental competence through childhood and adolescence. Hum Reprod. 2014;29:97–106.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
28.
Hambridge HL, Mumford SL, Mattison DR, Ye A, Pollack AZ, Bloom MS, et al. The influence of sporadic anovulation on hormone levels in ovulatory cycles. Hum Reprod. 2013;28:1687–94.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
29.
Sonigo C, Grynberg M. In vitro oocyte maturation for female fertility preservation. Gynecol Obstet Fertil. 2014;42:657–60.CrossRefPubMed
30.
Son WY, Chung JT, Herrero B, Dean N, Demirtas E, Holzer H, et al. Selection of the optimal day for oocyte retrieval based on the diameter of the dominant follicle in hCG-primed in vitro maturation cycles. Hum Reprod. 2008;23:2680–5.CrossRefPubMed
31.
Guzman L, Adriaenssens T, Ortega-Hrepich C, Albuz FK, Mateizel I, Devroey P, et al. Human antral follicles <6 mm: a comparison between in vivo maturation and in vitro maturation in non-hCG primed cycles using cumulus cell gene expression. Mol Hum Reprod. 2013;19:7–16.CrossRefPubMed
32.
De Munck N, Petrussa L, Verheyen G, Staessen C, Vandeskelde Y, Sterckx J et al. Chromosomal meiotic segregation, embryonic developmental kinetics and DNA (hydroxy)methylation analysis consolidate the safety of human oocyte vitrification. Mol Hum Reprod. 2015.
33.
Stoop D, De Munck N, Jansen E, Platteau P, Van den Abbeel E, Verheyen G, et al. Clinical validation of a closed vitrification system in an oocyte-donation programme. Reprod Biomed Online. 2012;24:180–5.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Wang H, Racowsky C, Combelles CM. Is it best to cryopreserve human cumulus-free immature oocytes before or after in vitro maturation? Cryobiology. 2012;65:79–87.CrossRefPubMed
35.
36.
Brambillasca F, Guglielmo MC, Coticchio G, Mignini Renzini M, Dal Canto M, Fadini R. The current challenges to efficient immature oocyte cryopreservation. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2013;30:1531–9.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
37.
Chian RC, Huang JY, Gilbert L, Son WY, Holzer H, Cui SJ, et al. Obstetric outcomes following vitrification of in vitro and in vivo matured oocytes. Fertil Steril. 2009;91:2391–8.CrossRefPubMed
38.
Chian RC, Gilbert L, Huang JY, Demirtas E, Holzer H, Benjamin A, et al. Live birth after vitrification of in vitro matured human oocytes. Fertil Steril. 2009;91:372–6.CrossRefPubMed
39.
El Hachem H, Poulain M, Finet A, Fanchin R, Frydman N, Grynberg MH. Live birth after frozen-thawed oocytes matured in vitro in a PCOS patient: a model for improving implantation rates in IVM cycles and objectively assessing the real potential of development of frozen oocytes matured in vitro. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2014;30:415–8.CrossRefPubMed
40.
Fadini R, Dal Canto M, Mignini Renzini M, Milani R, Fruscio R, Cantu MG, et al. Embryo transfer following in vitro maturation and cryopreservation of oocytes recovered from antral follicles during conservative surgery for ovarian cancer. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2012;29:779–81.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
41.
Vanhoutte L, Cortvrindt R, Nogueira D, Smitz J. Effects of chilling on structural aspects of early preantral mouse follicles. Biol Reprod. 2004;70:1041–8.CrossRefPubMed
42.
Combelles CM, Chateau G. The use of immature oocytes in the fertility preservation of cancer patients: current promises and challenges. Int J Dev Biol. 2012;56:919–29.CrossRefPubMed
43.
44.
Quintans CJ, Donaldson MJ, Urquiza MF, Carretero I, Pasqualini RA, Horton M, et al. Live birth of twins after IVF of oocytes that were cryopreserved almost 12 years before. Reprod Biomed Online. 2012;25:600–2.CrossRefPubMed
45.
Huang JY, Chian RC, Gilbert L, Fleiszer D, Holzer H, Dermitas E, et al. Retrieval of immature oocytes from unstimulated ovaries followed by in vitro maturation and vitrification: A novel strategy of fertility preservation for breast cancer patients. Am J Surg. 2010;200:177–83.CrossRefPubMed
46.
Dittrich R, Lotz L, Mueller A, Hoffmann I, Wachter DL, Amann KU, et al. Oncofertility: combination of ovarian stimulation with subsequent ovarian tissue extraction on the day of oocyte retrieval. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2013;11:19.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
47.
Dolmans MM, Marotta ML, Pirard C, Donnez J, Donnez O. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation followed by controlled ovarian stimulation and pick-up of mature oocytes does not impair the number or quality of retrieved oocytes. J Ovarian Res. 2014;7:80.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
48.
Soderstrom-Anttila V, Salokorpi T, Pihlaja M, Serenius-Sirve S, Suikkari AM. Obstetric and perinatal outcome and preliminary results of development of children born after in vitro maturation of oocytes. Hum Reprod. 2006;21:1508–13.CrossRefPubMed
49.
Metadata
Title
In vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes recovered from ovariectomy specimens in the laboratory: a promising “ex vivo” method of oocyte cryopreservation resulting in the first report of an ongoing pregnancy in Europe
Authors
Ingrid Segers
Ileana Mateizel
Ellen Van Moer
Johan Smitz
Herman Tournaye
Greta Verheyen
Michel De Vos
Publication date
01-08-2015
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics / Issue 8/2015
Print ISSN: 1058-0468
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7330
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-015-0528-9

Other articles of this Issue 8/2015

Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 8/2015 Go to the issue

Fertility Preservation

A new method for evaluating the risk of transferring leukemic cells with transplanted cryopreserved ovarian tissue

Fertility Preservation

IVF for fertility preservation in breast cancer patients—efficacy and safety issues

Fertility Preservation

Oocyte versus embryo cryopreservation for fertility preservation in cancer patients: guaranteeing a women's autonomy

Fertility Preservation

Exposure to radiation therapy is associated with female reproductive health among childhood cancer survivors: a meta-analysis study

Fertility Preservation

Scaffold-based delivery of adipose tissue-derived stem cells in rat frozen-thawed ovarian autografts: preliminary studies in a rat model

Fertility Preservation

Impact of the cryopreservation technique and vascular bed on ovarian tissue transplantation in cynomolgus monkeys