What is Natural Cycle IVF

Natural cycle IVF does not involve the usage of hormonal injections while stimulated cycle involves stimulation of ovaries using hormonal injections to ensure growth of multiple follicles. Natural cycle IVF is suitable for women having proper ovulation and egg growth

IVF is a process of forming embryos in the lab by extracting eggs outside the female body. Extracted eggs are mixed with sperm sample to produce embryos. Embryos hence formed are transferred back into the female uterus, which results in the growth of a beautiful baby.

IVF or test tube baby can be done in two ways:

1. Natural Cycle IVF

Natural cycle IVF is a process in which a single egg is retrieved from the female ovaries which forms naturally during the process of ovulation.

Number of Egg Retrieved: 1 Egg

Number of Embryos Formed: 1 Embryo

Advantages:

Natural cycle IVF has multiple advantages over stimulated cycle.

1. No Ovary Hyper Stimulation: During Natural IVF, no hormonal injections are being used during the process. This makes sure that the woman does not suffer from the harmful side effects of injections. Ovary Hyper Stimulation Syndrome (OHSS) is a condition, which occurs due to the consumption of high doses of hormonal injection. OHSS can cause failed IVF cycle, bleeding and abdominal cramps. Since, natural IVF cycle does not involve the usage of injections hence, the woman is saved from its harmful effects also.

2. Cheaper: Natural IVF treatment is much cheaper as compared to traditional or stimulated way of IVF as it does not involve the usage of injections. IVF injections are very costly and they are responsible for the half cost of IVF treatment. If injections are not used, then cost of the treatment is reduced to half. Hence, cost of IVF treatment if done in a natural way without using injection costs Rs. 75,000. Many clinics provide this service to the women who have normal and proper ovulation.

Disadvantages:

Natural cycle IVF has some disadvantages also which are summarized below:

1. No Frozen Embryo: Single embryo is formed during the procedure of IVF. Hence, no embryos can be frozen for the future use. If IVF cycle fails, the patient will have to undergo the entire process of egg retrieval, which is painful as well as time consuming.

2. No chances of Twins: Due to the formation of single embryo, only one embryo will be transferred to the uterus. Hence, there are no chances of having twins.