Immature oocyte retrieval combined with in-vitro oocyte maturation

Immature oocyte retrieval combined with in-vitro oocyte maturation has a considerable potential to increase knowledge on the microenvironment and nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation, and may be an alternative or even replacement for routine in-vitro fertilization as practised today. Understanding the critical steps to accomplish this task demands ongoing research to produce a comparable microenvironment to that of the developing follicle. This will allow cytoplasmic maturation to occur, and clarify knowledge on the selection of the dominant follicle, and utilize novel aspects fertilization and embryo culture in vitro. A second aspect of the procedure concerns its clinical aspects. These include a better understanding of the number of antral follicles that can be retrieved transvaginally and the nature of the endometrial window and its advancement in order to provide a window of opportunity for implantation to occur.