Risks and Benefits of Minimal Stimulation IVF Cycles By Sonja Kristiansen, MD on March 29, 2017

Modern in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles require the use of several fertility drugs for ovarian stimulation. Some of these drugs may even require daily injections. The cost of these medications adds up, increasing the overall cost of treatment. Many couples today are searching for an affordable IVF treatment alternative, and many turn to minimal stimulation IVF cycles, or “mini IVF”. At the Houston Fertility Treatment Center in Texas, Dr. Sonja Kristiansen offers mini IVF for couples that want to save money, use less medications, or both.

Candidates for Minimal Stimulation IVF Cycles

Because mini IVF uses fewer fertility drugs, it has a lower success rate, so it is not the right treatment option for all couples. In general, you may be a good candidate for mini IVF if you:

Are below the age of 35
Have been diagnosed with tubal factor infertility
Are not suffering from male factor infertility
Are unable to tolerate the traditional IVF fertility drug injections
Do not respond well to gonadotropin injections and have a depleted ovarian reserve

Risks

Because fewer fertility medications are used with mini IVF, fewer eggs are retrieved. In some cases, Dr. Kristiansen can only retrieve two to four after a mini IVF cycle. With traditional IVF, she can usually retrieve as many as 8 to 15 eggs. In some cases, she may not be able to retrieve any eggs at all. This lowers the mini IVF success rate considerably. With fewer eggs retrieved, you also eliminate the possibility of freezing your eggs, which can save time down the road.

Benefits

Mini IVF does offer certain benefits, especially for couples with financial concerns or those who prefer the use of less medication. Because there are fewer medications involved, many women who choose mini IVF experience fewer side effects as well, and enjoy a lower risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Mini IVF involves less of a time commitment than traditional IVF and much less discomfort for patients.

The Mini IVF Process

The mini IVF process takes less time than traditional IVF. To start, you will begin with a round of birth control pills, which will regulate your cycle. Then, Dr. Kristiansen may prescribe clomiphene citrate to stimulate ovulation and increase egg production. One injection is administered by Dr. Kristiansen once the follicles have matured. From there, the IVF process proceeds as it normally would. She will retrieve any eggs produced during the cycle, fertilize those eggs, and then transfer the embryos.

Success Rates

Unfortunately, the success rates for mini IVF are substantially lower than they are with traditional IVF. Reports have shown that success rates with mini IVF may be as low as 10 percent, with many couples needing multiple rounds to successfully conceive. Traditional IVF success rates are usually closer to 40 percent.