In vitro fertilization, often shortened to IVF, is a form of manual fertilization.

Unlike artificial insemination, the egg and the sperm are joined outside of the body, in a laboratory. Once they are successfully combined, the resulting embryo is placed back inside the mother’s uterus.

IVF is used to treat a wide range of problems that lead to infertility. These include male factor infertility, damaged fallopian tubes, ovulation disorders, and unexplained infertility.

Though IVF has long been considered safe and effective, an alternative procedure has recently become popular. Known as mini IVF (and sometimes gentle or minimal stimulation IVF), the procedure is nearly identical to traditional IVF except that it uses lower doses of medication to stimulate the ovaries.

How Mini IVF Works 

Mini in vitro fertilization is specifically designed for women that respond better to lower doses of medication. Conventional IVF has long used high doses of medications to stimulate the ovaries.

Traditional IVF requires daily injections of medications. Mini IVF, on the other hand, reduces the number of injections needed by offering tablets and a nasal spray in its place.

The specific number of injections needed for mini IVF varies from patient to patient.

Benefits of Mini IVF

The two biggest benefits of mini IVF are less injections and a lower cost.

Fewer injections mean less medication used, which is a huge health benefit for some women. Preliminary studies also show that lower doses of medication might lead to healthier embryos.

A side benefit of the reduction of injections is a lower cost. Mini IVF clocks in at roughly $4,500 while IVF costs over $10,000 in most cases.

Mini IVF Risks 

Mini IVF is not without its risks. Chief among them is a lower success rate than the traditional IVF procedure. To this day, conventional IVF remains the most effective method of in vitro fertilization.

The lower success rate can translate to more cycles of mini IVF. Despite the lower cost of the procedure, using it multiple times greatly increases the overall amount of money spent.

Is Mini IVF Right for You? 

Contact DFW Fertility today to see if mini IVF is right for you. Our team of experts take your individual needs and preferences into account when offering advice.