The Future of IVF

What Is Minimal Stimulation?

By Kelly Burgess

"I actually modified this technique from my colleagues in Japan; they've been doing this for 10 years," says Dr. Zhang. "It's also common in European countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Belgium and The Netherlands."

Dr. Mark Leondires, medical director for Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut, would like to think that minimal stimulation is the wave of the future. Unfortunately, the realties of the American market don't make it feasible for most clinics at this time, because the focus is profit, and profit comes from high success rates.

"In the countries where they've been doing [minimal stimulation IVF] for a while, it's generally covered by insurance, so there's a lot less pressure to get more eggs," says Dr. Leondires. "But the fact is that the best clinics in Europe can't hold a candle to us. They'll tolerate a 45 percent success rate; we're shooting for 60 percent."

Since in America IVF often is not covered by insurance, or only covered on a limited basis, Dr. Leondires says that patients want more bang for their buck. They'll shy away from a procedure that generates only one or two eggs thus only one or two chances at pregnancy over a procedure that may allow them to harvest enough eggs for several IVF attempts. There's also no proof yet that the more gentle stimulation guarantees better quality eggs.

At this point the reality is that MS IVF has a lower success rate than traditional IVF and every failed attempt lowers a clinic's success rate. Right or wrong, patients pick a clinic based upon that rate. These patients don't generally care if the reason it's low is because their procedures are different; they jst want a baby. As a result, most clinics don't offer MS IVF at all. Those that do have strict criteria to maximize the chances of success.

Want to see more?

• High Tech Babies: In vitro Fertilization
• High Tech Babies: Artificial Insemination
• Spousal Support: A Male Perspective on IVF
• Talk about it!