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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
OP-IVM: Combining In vitro Maturation after Oocyte Retrieval with Gynecological Surgery
Published on: May 9, 2021
Two-year development of children conceived by IVM: a prospective controlled single-blinded study
S Roesner1, M von Wolff2, M Elsaesser3
1Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Fertility Disorders, Ruprecht-Karls University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 440, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Insights
In vitro maturation (IVM) children showed no mental development differences compared to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) at age two. This study provides reassurance for IVM safety in pediatric neurodevelopment.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Pediatric Neurology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Limited data exists on the long-term health outcomes of children conceived via in vitro maturation (IVM).
- Previous studies were often retrospective or non-controlled, lacking robust evidence on IVM's impact on child development.
- There is a need for prospective, controlled studies to assess the neurodevelopmental status of IVM-conceived children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the mental development of children conceived by IVM with those conceived by conventional IVF and ICSI at two years of age.
- To evaluate potential differences in neurodevelopmental outcomes between IVM, IVF, ICSI, and spontaneously conceived children.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, controlled, single-blinded study involving 63 pregnancies (21 per IVM, IVF, ICSI group).
- Children were assessed at birth and at two years using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley score) as the primary outcome.
- Comparisons were made between IVM, IVF, ICSI groups, and a control group of spontaneously conceived children.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were observed in the mental development (Bayley scores) of children conceived via IVM compared to IVF and ICSI at two years.
- IVM children's neurodevelopmental outcomes were comparable to those of IVF and ICSI children.
- Pooled analysis of assisted reproductive technology (ART) groups (IVM, IVF, ICSI) showed no significant difference compared to spontaneously conceived children.
Conclusions:
- The study suggests that IVM is a safe method regarding the mental development of children at two years of age.
- Findings support previous research indicating no negative impact of IVM on child health.
- Larger multicenter studies are recommended to confirm these findings and provide definitive evidence on IVM safety.
Study Question:
Is there a difference in mental development of children conceived by IVM in comparison to IVF or ICSI, independently, at the age of 2 years?
Summary Answer:
No differences could be found in mental development of IVM children compared to IVF and IVM children compared to ICSI as well.
What Is Known Already:
Only few retrospective or non-controlled studies addressed the health of IVM children and did not show a negative impact of the IVM procedure.
Study Design, Size, Duration:
Prospective controlled single-blinded study including 63 pregnancies (21 per IVM, IVF and ICSI groups) with 70 children expected. Examinations of 62 embryos at first trimester screening, of 57 fetuses at 21st week of pregnancy, of 60 children at birth and of 37 children at their second birthday were performed during the study period from January 2009 until October 2016. Bayley score at the age of 2 was the primary outcome parameter. Data of 40 children after spontaneous conception from a previous prospective unrelated study were further used as control at 2 years examination and compared to the pooled ART group (IVM, IVF and ICSI).
Participants/Materials, Setting, Methods:
Twenty-one IVM pregnancies achieved in the study period were included. For each of them, the following IVF- and ICSI pregnancies were recruited as controls. Ultrasound examinations during pregnancy, examinations of newborns and of children around their second birthday were done by blinded prenatal specialists, pediatricians and neuropediatricians, respectively.
Main Results And The Role Of Chance:
Children conceived after IVM did not show differences during embryonic development, at birth nor in their neuropediatric development at the age of 2 compared to their counterparts after IVF and after ICSI (Bayley score 91.3 ± 21.0 for IVM, 96.8 ± 13.2 for IVF and 103.9 ± 13.1 for ICSI) and of the pooled ART group compared to children after spontaneous conception (96.6 ± 16.4 ART and 103.2 ± 9.4 spontaneous conception). When analyzing singleton pregnancies only, again no differences during pregnancy, at birth and at their 2-year evaluation were detected between IVM versus IVF and IVM versus ICSI.
Limitations, Reasons For Caution:
Due to the small sample size data must be interpreted with caution. To allow a confirmative answer that there are no health risks for children conceived by IVM, large multicenter cohort or registry-based studies are urgently needed.
Wider Implications Of The Findings:
The study adds further information to previous uncontrolled or retrospective studies, which were unable to detect risks for the health of IVM children.
Study Funding/Competing Interest(S):
The study was supported by the 'Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft' (DFG): STR 387/4-1. G.R. receives royalties from Pearson Assessment Germany (editor fee for Bayley-III). The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Trial Registration Number:
Not applicable.
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