The desire to have a child can be great, but the resistance or fear that women have towards hormone therapy in a stimulated IVF cycle is often even greater. IVF in a spontaneous cycle is an ideal way to help nature naturally.
IVF (also known as In Vitro Fertilization) in a spontaneous cycle is very similar to the standard IVF procedure, only without the use of hormonal preparations for ovarian stimulation. The only drug that is used in a spontaneous cycle is a stop injection before aspiration.
During the patient's cycle, the growth of the naturally selected follicle is monitored by ultrasound examinations and by determining the level of hormones produced by the follicle.
The first examination is usually scheduled between 6 and 10 days of the cycle. When will be the first examination will depend on the length of the woman's menstrual cycle. When the follicle reaches an adequate size, which is usually between 14 and 17 mm, a stop injection is scheduled, followed by follicle puncture and egg aspiration.
If the ovum is mature and suitable for further procedure, it continues with the laboratory phase of the procedure, which is identical to the one performed with the stimulated cycle. If fertilization and division occur, embryo transfer is performed.
IVF in a natural cycle can practically be advised to all couples with infertility problems. The only limitation would be irregular cycles and uterine anomalies.
Women who benefit the most from IVF in a spontaneous cycle are those who need this type of treatment due to blocked fallopian tubes or the malefactor of sterility, and who have resistance or fear of hormone therapy.
Also, older patients with an elevated level of the FSH hormone, a reduced level of the Antimillerial hormone, and a small number of antral follicles on the ovary, all of which speak in favor of a reduced reserve of egg cells.
In addition, the procedure is also suitable for patients who did not respond to hormone therapy in previous IVF cycles or who had several unsuccessful procedures. For medical reasons, this type of IVF is also recommended for women in whom hormonal therapy is contraindicated due to hormone-sensitive pathological processes (on the breasts or ovaries).
The most common question of patients is what else can be done to increase the success of IVF. When talking about the success of the natural cycle procedure, it is certainly lower than with the traditional stimulated IVF cycle. But it is also a smaller shock that the body suffers compared to a more invasive stimulated cycle.
Some techniques can be done in parallel or before the IVF cycle itself, which can increase the success of the procedure. These techniques include the initiation of the endometrium, i.e. the technique of deliberately creating defects in the uterine mucosa with the aim of its better formation in the next cycle.
The biggest advantage of IVF in a spontaneous cycle compared to the conventional stimulated procedure is the complete elimination of the risk of hyperstimulation.
Also, the risk of multiple pregnancies is reduced, and the procedure itself is cheaper, more comfortable, and less stressful.
Another significant advantage compared to the stimulated cycle is that if pregnancy does not occur, there is no need to take a break until the next procedure.
Some techniques can be done in parallel or before the IVF cycle itself, which can increase the success of the procedure. These techniques include the initiation of the endometrium, i.e. the technique of deliberately creating defects in the uterine mucosa with the aim of its better formation in the next cycle.
In addition to numerous advantages, this procedure has several limitations as well as the stimulated IVF cycle. Namely, spontaneous ovulation may occur (when the doctor advises you to undergo intrauterine insemination) or there may not be a mature egg in the follicle or the cell obtained may not be of sufficient quality to continue with the laboratory phase of the procedure. In this case, patients need to remember that it is only one cycle.
Patients have to keep in mind, and we constantly stress this to them, that even in women who have no problem with conception, it happens that there are no eggs in some cycles. In a spontaneous, as in a stimulated cycle, fertilization of the ovum may not occur, or the embryo may be inadequate. Nevertheless, the natural VTO cycle remains an indisputable way to achieve the desired pregnancy with a little help from experts.
