What Is Natural Cycle IVF?
Natural cycle IVF, also known as no or low stimulation IVF, is an invitro fertilisation procedure which uses no artificial fertility drugs, or very low dose ones.
Why Would I Want To Have IVF Without Fertility Drugs?
For some couples, the choice is financial, as NC-IVF is a fraction of the cost of standard IVF, so it may be their only chance at treatment. Some people prefer to try this method before moving on to traditional IVF.
For others, the choice may be medical. They may be contraindicated to fertility drugs (for instance, with a previous history of ovarian cancer or depression) or they may have reacted badly to a course of fertility drugs before. Women who have suffered with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome may be offered this type of treatment as the syndrome is very serious and can be life-threatening so it may not be safe for them to continue with standard IVF.
Some couples just don't like drugs and prefer a more natural approach to infertility.
What Is Involved?
Prior to the procedure commencing, you would be asked to record your temperature daily and use an LH ovulation kit for approximately 3 weeks prior to your period starting. This will identify when your LH surge happens (when ovulation occurs). This is a test month to establish when your most fertile time is likely to be.
The following month, you will be given an ultrasound scan roughly 3 days before your expected LH surge to see if your follicles are indeed producing eggs. If they are, you will be asked to inject yourself with HCG that evening and then 36 hours later, you will have an egg retrival operation done (passing a fine needle through the vaginal wall to retrieve the eggs from the follicles). This will either be done with sedation and painkillers or under a general anaesthetic, whichever is your preference.
The eggs are then fertilized and if there are any embryos of good enough quality to put back, they will be implanted into your womb, also with a fine needle. You will be given progesterone pessaries to insert and will have to wait 2 weeks for a pregnancy blood test to see if the embryo transfer has worked.
This procedure is much gentler than standard IVF as you rely on your own natural cycle and don't have to do daily self-injections for weeks or months at a time. The downside is, it doesn't work for women who don't ovulate and it can be a difficult treatment to embark upon if the woman has irregular periods. It also has a lower success rate which is why doctors prefer drug-based IVF.
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