Deciding which fertility treatment to pursue is complex—personal, medical, and financial factors all play a role. To help you make this decision, your Shady Grove Fertility physician will provide you with recommendations that will give you the greatest chance of conception. Their goal is to do what’s best for you, preferably starting with basic treatment options and only moving on to advanced forms of treatment when necessary. As part of this commitment to doing what is in the best interest of the patient, SGF favors traditional—or stimulated—in vitro fertilization (IVF) over natural cycle IVF. Natural cycle IVF is similar to traditional IVF, but without the use of medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs.
While natural cycle IVF may sound preferable, patients should very carefully research and consider the following:
- What are the success rates per cycle?
- Can I preserve embryos for future use?
- What is the financial cost of each cycle?
- What are the risks involved?
- What is the emotional cost of each cycle?
As Stephen J. Greenhouse, M.D., of Shady Grove Fertility’s Fair Oaks, VA, office describes in the video below, natural cycle IVF may sound like a less stressful, less costly, and less risky treatment option, but the truth is that success rates tend to be very low, which ultimately drives up the cost and stress associated with this type of fertility treatment. Your chances are better with one stimulated IVF cycle than three or four cycles of natural cycle IVF. The success rates are so much lower because the cycle can only produce up to one mature egg at a time. If the patient ovulates early, that month’s opportunity has been missed. In the event an egg is retrieved, that egg represents only one single chance for fertilization, which greatly decreases the odds for success.
Watch the video to learn more about other potential risks and costs for natural cycle IVF and why SGF favors traditional IVF.
If you would like to learn more about why our physicians favor traditional IVF over natural cycle IVF, or to schedule an appointment, please speak with one of our New Patient Liaisons at 877-971-7755.
