In conventional IVF treatment, eggs are retrieved after they mature and included in the process. Whereas in In vitro maturation (IVM), the eggs are retrieved before they are fully mature and allowed to mature in a laboratory environment. The purpose of this treatment is to continue treatment of any patients who may suffer harm from medications used to mature the eggs, without administering these medications.
In this method, it is not always possible to obtain eggs with desired quality. In addition, pregnancy rates are somewhat lower.