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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
Vitrification of In Vitro Matured Oocytes Collected from Adult and Prepubertal Ovaries in Sheep
Published on: July 10, 2021
Live birth after vitrification of in vitro matured human oocytes
Ri-Cheng Chian1, Lucy Gilbert, Jack Y J Huang
1McGill Reproductive Centre, McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Objective:
To report the first healthy live birth from immature oocytes retrieved in a natural menstrual cycle, followed by in vitro maturation (IVM) and cryopreservation of the oocytes by vitrification.
Design:
Case report.
Setting:
University-based tertiary medical center.
Patient(S):
A 27-year-old woman with tubal disease and polycystic ovaries.
Intervention(S):
Immature oocytes were retrieved by transvaginal ultrasound guided follicle aspiration on day 13 of her natural menstrual cycle, matured in vitro and vitrified. The oocytes were thawed in a subsequent menstrual cycle, inseminated by intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and the resulting embryos transferred.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Oocyte maturation and survival rates, pregnancy, and live birth.
Result(S):
One metaphase II and 18 germinal vesicle stage oocytes were collected; 16 out of 18 germinal vesicle oocytes matured, and a total of 17 oocytes were vitrified. After thawing, four IVM oocytes survived; three embryos were transferred. The woman went on to deliver a single healthy live baby at term.
Conclusion(S):
We provide proof-of-principle evidence that the novel fertility preservation strategy of immature oocyte retrieval, IVM, and vitrification of oocytes can lead to successful pregnancy and healthy live birth.
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