Minimal Stimulation IVF (also known as MiniIVF, MicroIVF, or Low IVF) is an alternative IVF protocol which offers more gentle stimulation than the conventional IVF approach. In this protocol, a woman’s ovaries are stimulated with oral medication (Clomid) as well as a minimal amount of injectable gonadotropins (HMG). The goal is to stimulate the ovaries so that they produce fewer but perhaps higher quality eggs than that which is produced in a conventional IVF stimulation protocol. The success rate for this technique is lower than the success rate in certain age groups of patient undergoing traditional IVF. However, in women who have diminished ovarian reserve and those who are thought to already have poor chances at success with IVF or are considering a donor egg cycle, this method of stimulation may be beneficial specifically for such women and hence a good alternative to conventional IVF stimulation.
Although less medication is used in this process than in conventional IVF, the process is similar in that egg retrieval, fertilization, embryo culture and ultrasound-guided embryo transfer is performed. The goal of this protocol is to retrieve only 1-2 eggs and hence only a maximum of 1-2 embryos can be expected to develop in each minimal stimulation protocol. In most cases, the embryos formed from each minimal stimulation cycle will be frozen and will be transferred to the uterus during a subsequent unstimulated cycle.
Benefits of minimal stimulation IVF:
- Less fertility medications
- Less injections (less discomfort and lower cost)
- Lower cost than most other IVF protocols
- Less risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)
- Possibly better quality eggs/embryos than would be obtained in conventional IVF for a select group of women
- Possibly greater number of high quality of embryos for cryopreservation
With multiple fertility centers in the NYC area, GENESIS serves IVF patients from Brooklyn, Staten Island, Long Island (Five Towns), Queens and Lower Manhattan, New York. Find the location nearest you.
