Minimal Stimulation IVF & Natural IVF

Although less effective, IVF can be performed with minimal hormone injections. This process includes oral and potentially low dose injection fertility medications; however, some patients forego the injections in their entirety. Following the medication, minimal stimulation IVF follows the same protocols as full stimulation IVF.

Some advantages of minimal stimulation IVF may include a lower cost, fewer injections, fewer office visits, fewer monitoring days, and less exposure to hormone medications.

Note: The success rate of minimal stimulation IVF is lower than the success rate of full stimulation IVF.

• Patients who do not create many ovarian follicles during a full stimulation IVF
• Patients with previously failed full stimulation IVF
• Patients with diminished ovarian reserve
• Patients with advanced maternal age

During a regular ovulation cycle, women typically only develop one egg at a time. In a traditional IVF cycle, self-injections of various hormones are used to mature multiple eggs at once in a single cycle. Patients are then frequently monitored using bloodwork and ultrasounds. Once the eggs are matured, patients are given a trigger shot of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (HCG), which helps the ovaries release the eggs. About 36 hours later, the eggs are retrieved using an aspirating needle and ultrasound guidance. The eggs are then fertilized with sperm in an embryology lab.

Natural IVF is a form of in vitro fertilization in which no hormone injections or ovary-stimulating medications are used. Because there are no medications used to stimulate the ovaries, only one mature egg can be retrieved during a natural IVF cycle. This process requires careful monitoring through ultrasounds and bloodwork to ensure that the egg is not released before retrieval. The rest of the natural IVF process, including retrieval, fertilization, and embryo transfer, is virtually the same as a traditional IVF cycle.

Although not as effective as traditional IVF, natural IVF can be a good option in many different scenarios, including:

• Cases of mild male factor infertility with no other fertility issues present
• Women who wish to reduce the number of medications they take during fertility treatment
• Individuals and couples who wish to avoid having a surplus of embryos
At Reproductive Specialists of the Carolinas, our fertility specialists will take a holistic look at your unique case to help you determine the best course of treatment for your family-building journey.