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The conventional hyperstimulation IVF treatment relies on daily injections of IVF hormone drugs to stimulate the ovaries to produce the maximum number of eggs possible in each cycle. All eggs, regardless of quality, are targeted for stimulation which means this method produces a surfeit of eggs, many of which are not viable. Thus, hyperstimulation generally produces only three to five "quality" eggs viable for a sustainable pregnancy, much like our Mini-IVFTM treatment
A woman must administer -- on her own -- daily shots (usually one to two daily for three to five weeks, or 20 to 60 per cycle) of Gonadotropins (Pergonal, Repronex, Menogon, Fertinex, Follistim, Gonal F, Puregon, Pregnyl, Novarel, Profasi, or Ovidrel) prior to egg retrieval. After embryo transfer, she must self-inject daily shots of Progesterone supplemented with estrogen for two weeks until her first pregnancy blood test. These shots are very painful because they must be injected directly into muscle tissue. They are needed to thicken the uterine lining so it is more receptive and better able to support embryo implantation.
Women who elect to have conventional IVF rather than more gentle methods have been told more eggs collected each cycle will increase their chance of pregnancy. Our success rates with Mini-IVFTM show these claims to be untrue and, as minimal stimulation IVF becomes a more widely available option, we believe many more women will reject this equation of quantity of eggs with chances of pregnancy. Nevertheless, conventional IVF has an important role to play, particularly for women who are concerned primarily with the quantity of eggs and for women under 35 who may produce more than three to five "quality eggs" with conventional IVF. In these cases conventional IVF may be the best method. However, the patient will have to go through one or two cycles of conventional IVF to find out if they are ideal candidates for the approach. Conventional IVF is also ideal for cancer patients who have little time before radiation and chemotherapy treatments must start.
Conventional IVF is the most costly of form of IVF treatment. The procedure costs between $7,500 and $12,000, plus $2,500 to $5,000 for IVF drugs. Click here to read more about our fees.
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