Researchers from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Athens recently reviewed clinical trials and literature regarding the effects of in-vitro maturation on assisted reproduction success in women with subfertility associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The results of the research were published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

According to researchers, women with PCOS have a higher risk of ovarian hyperstimulation and release of immature oocytes. One possible answer to this problem is to harvest immature oocytes and mature those oocytes in an in-vitro setting. In an attempt to set precedence and possible practice recommendations, published studies were reviewed.

Conclusion: Researchers were unable to find any randomized, controlled studies on which new practice recommendations could be founded. Current research studies could provide such foundation, but researchers urge further research into the potential use of in-vitro maturation in subfertile PCOS patients.

Source: Siristatidis CS, Vrachnis N, Creatsa M, Maheshwari A, Bhattacharya S. In vitro maturation in subfertile women with polycystic ovarian syndrome undergoing assisted reproduction. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Oct 8;10:CD006606.

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