In most cases, fertility medications are used during IVF, in order to stimulate the woman's ovaries to produce more eggs than usual. Some women are good candidates for minimal stimulation IVF, a procedure in which only a small amount of fertility medication, or none at all, is used. Below, we will take a look at the differences between these procedures, as well as the advantages and disadvantages to each.

About Conventional vs Minimal Stimulation IVF Treatments

During a conventional IVF cycle, the woman receives several weeks of injections of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), typically followed by a human chorionic gonadotropin (HcG) hormone "trigger" injection. This ensures that the woman's ovaries produce 3-4 eggs or more, as opposed to the typical single egg.Conventional IVF is effective, but there is a risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a potentially serious condition. In addition, injectable fertility medications are expensive. For these reasons, some women are good candidates for minimal stimulation IVF.

During a minimal stimulation cycle, the woman receives little or no medication. Once the egg follicle is mature, it can be retrieved from the ovary and used for IVF. The development of the egg follicle must be carefully monitored throughout the woman's cycle. This procedure is only an option for women who ovulate regularly.It is also possible to perform in-vitro maturation (IVM), which does not require the use of fertility medication. During this procedure, immature egg follicles are retrieved from the ovaries and matured in the laboratory; the mature eggs are used during IVF. This allows for the retrieval of more eggs than a typical minimal stimulation cycle, but the woman must have good egg reserves.‍

Advantages and Disadvantages

There are advantages and disadvantages to both traditional and minimal stimulation IVF. Some things to consider when choosing between the two include:

• Timing - With a traditional IVF cycle, we are able to synchronize all patients in a group so that the lab is prepared to perform each procedure on a certain day. Timing is much trickier with minimal stimulation cycles, because the cycle is based around the woman's natural cycle rather than the induction of egg development.
• Cost - Injectable fertility medications are very expensive, and are one of the main factors contributing to the high cost of IVF.
• Risks - One of the main advantages of minimal stimulation IVF is that the procedure can be performed without the use of fertility medications which could cause OHSS, making it a strong choice for women who have had OHSS or been at risk for it in the past.
• Effectiveness - For women who are good candidates for minimal stimulation IVF, the procedure can be successful. However, it is inappropriate to use minimal stimulation in women who do not have good egg reserves because the chances of pregnancy are low.

Dr. Randy Morris would be happy to meet with you about treatment for your infertility. To schedule your consultation today, please click below and enter your information or call IVF1 at (630) 357-6540.