In Vitro Maturation (IVM)

Facing fertility treatment can feel overwhelming, especially when the idea of daily hormone injections adds another layer of stress to an already emotional process. In vitro maturation offers a gentler option, allowing eggs to mature outside the body without the extended stimulation medications that traditional in vitro fertilization requires.

At Chedid Grieco, we introduced in vitro maturation after Dr. Silvana Chedid studied the technique during a research trip to Vietnam. This advanced technique allows immature eggs to be retrieved and matured in a laboratory setting, removing the need for the 10- to 12-day injection period most patients associate with conventional fertility treatments.

What Is In Vitro Maturation?

In vitro maturation, often shortened to IVM, is a fertility treatment where immature eggs are collected from the ovaries before they receive the hormone stimulation typically used in in vitro fertilization. Once retrieved, the eggs are placed in a specialized laboratory culture where they mature over 24 to 48 hours before fertilization can occur.

This process shifts the maturation work from your body to our laboratory. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, IVM reduces the financial and emotional burden of treatment because it requires significantly less medication and shorter monitoring periods compared with traditional IVF cycles. Our team pairs this approach with insights from our maturation of human oocytes research to help you understand exactly what to expect at each stage.

What to Expect During the IVM Process

Your journey typically begins with a consultation where we review your hormone levels, ovarian reserve, and overall health history. From there, we may recommend little to no stimulation medication, a major shift from the weeks of injections required in conventional IVF cycles.

Once your eggs reach the right stage of development, we retrieve them through a minor outpatient procedure. The eggs are then transferred to our lab, where our embryology team monitors their maturation closely over the following one to two days. Once mature, the eggs can be fertilized using standard laboratory techniques, and any resulting embryos are cared for using the same rigorous protocols we apply across all of our fertility treatments.

Because IVM involves fewer clinic visits for monitoring, many patients find the process fits more easily into their daily routines. We stay in close contact throughout, so you always know what stage you are in and what comes next.

Why Choose In Vitro Maturation?

Many patients are drawn to IVM because it eliminates the burden of daily injections that come with ovarian stimulation. Instead of weeks of hormone shots, you may only need minimal or even no stimulation medication before your egg retrieval.

This can make a significant difference for your comfort and your schedule. Some of the main reasons our patients consider in vitro maturation include:

• Fewer or no stimulation injections, reducing physical discomfort during treatment
• Shorter monitoring periods, which can mean less time away from work or family
• A lower risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, as less medication is used
• A potentially more affordable path for those managing treatment costs

These benefits do not mean IVM works the same way for everyone. We evaluate your ovarian reserve, egg count, and overall health before recommending this option, as candidacy plays a large role in how successful the process may be.

Who May Benefit From In Vitro Maturation?

IVM tends to be a strong choice for women with a high antral follicle count or polycystic ovary syndrome, both of which can increase sensitivity to stimulation medications. It can also be a helpful option for women who need to preserve fertility quickly before starting cancer treatment, as it does not require the multi-week stimulation process that traditional egg freezing often involves.

If you are unsure whether IVM fits your situation, our team will walk through your medical history and testing results together with you. We may also recommend combining IVM with other approaches, such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection, depending on your goals and diagnosis. Our multilingual team, which speaks Spanish, English, Portuguese, and French, is available to help you understand every option in the language you feel most comfortable with.

We understand that choosing a fertility treatment often means weighing comfort, cost, and timeline all at once. That is why we take time during your consultation to explain not just whether IVM is medically appropriate for you, but also how it may fit into your broader plans, whether you are managing a demanding work schedule, traveling internationally for care, or simply hoping to reduce the physical toll of treatment.

Start the Conversation About IVM With Chedid Grieco

For nearly 30 years, our female-led team has helped individuals and couples move closer to parenthood through personalized, boutique fertility care. We are proud to be one of only 8 countries outside of the United States holding a New York tissue license, and our clinic holds both FDA and NYDH licensing, standards that matter for patients traveling internationally for care. With 1,200 cycles performed each year and 8,780 babies born under our care, our team has the experience to guide you through advanced techniques like in vitro maturation with confidence.

Consultations take place in Miami, while treatments are performed at our laboratory in São Paulo, Brazil, giving you the comfort of local guidance paired with world-class care abroad through fertility tourism. When you are ready to take the next step, reach out to us to schedule your consultation.