Mini – IVF without the use of injectable drugs:
An innovative approach to assisted reproduction
The technique was first developed in Japan and further improved by other pioneering doctors of IVF in the United States and Shanghai.
By using Mini-IVF, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome can be avoided, and either no injections or very little (3-4) are required. In conventional IVF, the cost of the medicines required ranges from 1.200 to 2.000 Euros, while the expected cost of medicines for Mini – IVF is 200 to 300 Euros at most.
In addition, the stimulation process is very simple. In conventional IVF, usually 7-15 ova are collected, of which only 5-7 (depending on age) are really of high quality. Instead, Mini – IVF is designed to collect 1-3 eggs, but they have the ability to create high quality embryos.
Many patients with poor quality embryos, with Mini – IVF significantly improve the quality of their embryos and end up having pregnancies, even in cases where they would otherwise have no luck.
In most cases, the only side effects for the woman are mild headaches and / or fatigue that will only last a few days.
It is well known that the extremely high dose of stimulant drugs used in conventional IVF treatments seems to result in a worse implantation rate after the embryo transfer.
With the use of Mini – IVF, hormone levels in the blood are consistent with those found in natural conception cases, thus resulting in the significant improvement in the probability of embryo implantation.
The endometrium is in perfect shape to receive the embryo implantation in its natural environment, an environment that is friendly and hormone-free, in contrast to the classical IVF treatment where the endometrium has been “bombarded” with lots of hormones and has become perhaps hostile to the fetus, resulting in lower success rates.
But which women are suitable candidates for Mini – IVF?
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- Women with little response to hormonal stimulation in prior IVFs and have a low ovarian reserve (AMH <1 ng).
- Older women (over 42 years of age) or younger women with a disturbed hormonal profile (FSH> 12).
- Women discouraged by the cost of conventional IVF.
- Women with a history of cancer.
- Women with previous bad experiences with hormonal stimulation.
- Women at high risk of developing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.
- Women with implantation failures after undergoing conventional IVF.
Patients with pathological hormones, before deciding to follow IVF selection using egg donation, should try the above method at least once, reminding the prospective mothers of the ancient Greek saying “οὐκ ἐν τῷ πολλῷ τὸ εὖ”, which roughly translates into “the good is not found in the many”.