Supplemented tissue culture medium 199 is a better medium for in vitro maturation of oocytes from women with polycystic ovary syndrome women than human tubal fluid.

OBJECTIVE

To compare oocyte maturation, fertilization and cleavage rates, and embryonic developmental quality after culture of human immature oocytes from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients in human tubal fluid (HTF) or tissue culture medium (TCM) 199.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

SETTING

University hospital.

PATIENT(S): Thirteen women undergoing 23 in vitro maturation cycles, from whom 119 oocytes were retrieved.

INTERVENTION(S): Cumulus-enclosed germinal vesicle-stage oocytes matured in TCM-199-supplemented or HTF-supplemented media.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Oocyte maturation and fertilization rates, embryonic developmental quality.

RESULT(S): Significant differences were observed between TCM 199 and HTF regarding maturation rate (82% vs. 56.9%), fertilization rate (70% vs. 39.4%), and embryo quality (81.3% vs. 41.7%).

CONCLUSION(S): Human tubal fluid medium, although widely used for embryo fertilization and maintenance in IVF techniques, is not an appropriate medium for the maturation of oocytes obtained from PCOS patients in nonstimulated cycles.