PURPOSE: to evaluate the usefulness of the in vitro maturation technique of human oocyte and subsequent fertilization. METHODS: this is a prospective nonrandomized, descriptive study, carried out during the period of November 1999 to March 2001, with 20 cycles of in vitro fertilization of 15 patients with tubal infertility. All signed the written informed consent before the beginning of the study. The selected patients were at least 18 and at most 32 years of age, with only tubal infertility, and body mass index less than 25 kg/m². The patients received 300 UI of recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) by intramuscular injection at the second day of the cycle and additional doses of 150 IU at the fourth and sixth days of cycle. The oocyte retrieval was performed at the seventh day of the cycle. Those oocytes classified as immature were cultured in tissue culture medium 199 (TCM-199) with antibiotics, pyruvate, FSH, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and serum (serum substitute supplement - Irvine Scientific®). After 48 h of culture, the oocytes that achieved metaphase II stage were inseminated, and the fertilized ones were transferred. RESULTS: one hundred and forty-four follicles were aspirated. There were 67 (46.5%) immature retrieved oocytes and 43 (64.2%) reached the metaphase II stage and were inseminated. Thirty fertilized oocytes and 25 embryos were transferred to 10 patients. There was one pregnancy with a baby born. CONCLUSION: we conclude that to mature human oocytes in vitro before in vitro fertilization is a procedure able to achieve pregnancy.
In vitro fertilization; Infertility
