Natural Cycle Plus IVF (Mini Stimulation IVF)

Dr. Rakoff offers a more natural Mini Stimulation in his IVF Program as an alternative to the standard IVF treatment.  In both IVF techniques, egg retrieval and embryo transfer procedures are the same.  The difference is that Mini stimulation IVF requires the use of less fertility medication than the standard counterpart.  This IVF treatment allows us to give patients the flexibility to choose a treatment plan that meets their specific needs.  We are pleased to offer this program in San Diego to patients who are seeking a more natural approach to treatment.

Our standard IVF requires the administration of higher dosages of injectable medications to stimulate the growth of multiple eggs.  These medications are expensive and may be associated with Ovarian Hyperstimulation syndrome.  Frequent monitoring is done to ensure safety.  The typical result of higher amounts of medication is an increased number of embryos available for  transfer.  Also, in traditional IVF, cryopreservation of surplus embryos for transfer in a subsequent non-stimulated cycle is available.  The overall success rate with standard IVF varies, based primarily upon the patient’s age, but generally gives the best success rate world wide.

Mini Stimulation IVF, however, involves less medication, and  typically results in the maturation of less follicles (typically 1-5).  Therefore, there are less shots, medication, expense and swelling of the ovaries. However,  it is important to note that with this technique we also have less embryos and a lower success rate.  We often have few or no embryos to freeze.

Candidates for Natural Cycle Plus IVF include any patient who is an appropriate candidate for standard IVF.  Patients often select the Mini protocol to more closely mimic nature, to reduce the number of shots, and decrease anxiety about extra frozen embryos.  In cases where our standard protocol has resulted in limited ovarian response, some patients will also elect to use this Mini protocol.