Minimal ovarian stimulation (mini-IVF) for IVF utilizing vitrification and cryopreserved embryo transfer

Gentle ovarian stimulation protocols, such as ‘mini-IVF’, have several potential advantages over conventional IVF protocols, including less medication and fewer injections, producing fewer eggs, but eggs of higher quality. The particular ‘mild’ stimulation protocol called ‘mini-IVF’ is described. This protocol requires a reliable and cheap method for embryo cryopreservation such as vitrification, because of the negative impact of clomiphene citrate on the endometrium and since cryopreserved embryo transfers with this protocol have yielded much higher pregnancy rates than fresh transfers. In this series, patients were not denied treatment based on their day-3 FSH value or ovarian reserve. Yet very acceptable pregnancy rates were achieved (20% for fresh embryo transfers and 41% for cryopreserved embryo transfers). These results strengthen the argument for a mini-IVF protocol and vitrification as an alternative to standard conventional IVF stimulation protocols. Now a randomized control trial with cryopreserved single-embryo transfer is required.Gentle ovarian stimulation protocols have several potential advantages over conventional IVF protocols, including less medication and fewer injections, producing fewer eggs, but eggs of higher quality. ‘Mini-IVF’ is safe, patient friendly and physiologically more natural. It may be more cost effective if results are comparable to conventional protocols. Vitrification of embryos allows the transfer of warmed embryos in subsequent cycles when the endometrium is more receptive. In this series, patients were not denied treatment based on their day-3 FSH value or ovarian reserve. Yet very acceptable pregnancy rates were achieved (20% for fresh embryo transfers and 41% for cryopreserved embryo transfers). These results strengthen the argument for gentle stimulation protocols and vitrification in preference to standard conventional IVF stimulation protocols. Now a randomized control trial with cryopreserved single-embryo transfer is required.