Is mini IVF the same thing as conventional IVF?
The answer is both yes and no. For most part, mini IVF is identical to conventional IVF. However, the two have some differences too.
In mini IVF, also referred as minimal stimulation IVF or micro IVF, fewer eggs are used than conventional IVF. In a typical mini IVF treatment cycle only 2 eggs are used for fertilization, while in a conventional IVF cycle several eggs are retrieved and fertilized. Therefore, in the mini IVF treatment the patient is given weaker ovulation-induction drugs or fewer doses of the usual ovulation-induction drugs. For instance, while in a normal IVF cycle the patient is given gonadotropins to ensure the production of several eggs during ovulation, the patient is given Clomid (a weaker drug in comparison to gonadotropins) or fewer doses of gonadotropins in a mini IVF cycle.
Another difference between the two lies in the number of embryos (fertilized eggs) implanted inside the uterus. Only one embryo is implanted in mini IVF, whereas in conventional IVF 1 to 3 embryos can be implanted.
In a few cases, the patient may not be administered any ovaries-stimulating drugs during a mini IVF cycle. This usually happens when the couple's infertility is due to male fertility problems. Your doctor may also decide against using any ovulation-stimulating drugs if your fallopian tubes are blocked. However, women who have ovulation problems are most certainly asked to take an ovaries-stimulating medication for a few days. In mini IVF, just like in case of IVF, a patient may be also asked to use Cetrotide or any other GnRH antagonist to regulate ovulation.
The remaining steps, retrieval of eggs, fertilization of eggs, and implantation of embryos (fertilized eggs), are same in both the procedures.
In mini IVF, also referred as minimal stimulation IVF or micro IVF, fewer eggs are used than conventional IVF. In a typical mini IVF treatment cycle only 2 eggs are used for fertilization, while in a conventional IVF cycle several eggs are retrieved and fertilized. Therefore, in the mini IVF treatment the patient is given weaker ovulation-induction drugs or fewer doses of the usual ovulation-induction drugs. For instance, while in a normal IVF cycle the patient is given gonadotropins to ensure the production of several eggs during ovulation, the patient is given Clomid (a weaker drug in comparison to gonadotropins) or fewer doses of gonadotropins in a mini IVF cycle.
Another difference between the two lies in the number of embryos (fertilized eggs) implanted inside the uterus. Only one embryo is implanted in mini IVF, whereas in conventional IVF 1 to 3 embryos can be implanted.
In a few cases, the patient may not be administered any ovaries-stimulating drugs during a mini IVF cycle. This usually happens when the couple's infertility is due to male fertility problems. Your doctor may also decide against using any ovulation-stimulating drugs if your fallopian tubes are blocked. However, women who have ovulation problems are most certainly asked to take an ovaries-stimulating medication for a few days. In mini IVF, just like in case of IVF, a patient may be also asked to use Cetrotide or any other GnRH antagonist to regulate ovulation.
The remaining steps, retrieval of eggs, fertilization of eggs, and implantation of embryos (fertilized eggs), are same in both the procedures.
What are the advantages of mini IVF?
Mini IVF has three main advantages:
- It is less costly than conventional IVF. A mini IVF cycle costs anything between $5,000 to $7,000, whereas a conventional IVF costs at least $15,000
- The risk of multiple births in mini IVF is lower than in conventional IVF
- The risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is less in mini IVF
What are the disadvantages of mini IVF?
The main disadvantages of mini IVF are:
- Mini IVF has a lower success rate than the usual IVF.
- Mini IVF may prove costlier than the usual IVF in the long run. While this statement appears to contradict what has been listed in the first point under the advantages of mini IVF, both statements are absolutely true. One cycle of mini IVF is less expensive than one cycle of usual IVF, as shown above. However, as the success rate of mini IVF is lower than the usual IVF, you may need to undergo many IVF cycles before you are able to conceive.
- Mini IVF is not suitable for someone who wants to store unused embryos for future use, because only 2 eggs are retrieved during the procedure. At the end of a mini IVF cycle, at the best, you will have only one unused embryo. As not all frozen embryos can be used for implantation later, spending money on storing one embryo does not make much sense.
During the program, to get an appropriate response from the drugs, untimely and irregular effects (e.g. ovulation) of the hormones that your body secretes, have to be blocked. Generally, the drugs which would suppress the hormones are started on the 2nd or 21st day of the menstruation. These drugs are applied subcutaneously (under skin) once a day.
Vaginal ultrasound examinations are performed. Because it provides more detailed information compared to the abdominal ultrasound and saves you from discomfort because full bladder is not necessary. Follicles are liquid-filled sacs which are seen as dark colored, oval shapes under ultrasound and are thought to have oocyte inside. As the lubricant gel used is water-based, it does not have any side effects and does not stain your clothing. 
Hormone levels are traced by obtaining blood samples on certain days before beginning to use ovary stimulants. You will be informed in advance for such examinations.
When the follicle number and size, hormone level and the endometrium reaches the desired level, human corionic gonodotropin (hCG), is injected intramusculary to mature the eggs to trigger ovulation. 36 to 40 hours following the hCG injection, ovulation occurs. In IVF procedure, eggs are retrieved by emptying the follicles prior ovulation. As timing is very important, you have to pay maximum attention to follow the given information about hCG injection. On the hCG injection day, you will be explained and given a form explaining how you should get your injection done at a specific hour after 8 pm.
On the day of oocyte pick-up, please come to the hospital in the morning with your spouse, with empty stomach (avoid eating, drinking and smoking 6 hours before oocyte pick-up).
Not every retrieved egg yield to an embryo. Embryo transfer might be canceled if fertilization failure or inadequate embryo formation occurs. For this reason, you should call us the next day of retrieval and get information about the fertilization. In the following days, appropriately developed embryos will be transferred to the uterus. As this procedure is done as a normal vaginal examination, there is no need for anesthesia. We recommend that you have a light breakfast before you come to the center. Previously decided number of embryos will be transferred into the uterus with a plastic catheter in gynecological examination position. This procedure has to be done with full bladder. You can be discharged following this process, after a short rest. Again your IVF doctor will give you information about ET and the days following it. We recommend a home rest the same day but the following day you can go back to your routine life style.
Pregnancy test will be performed on the 12th day following the ET by detecting beta-hCG hormone level in blood. A pregnancy can also occur despite the bleeding.