Mild IVF treatment : Hi all, I just... - Fertility Network UK

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Mild IVF treatment

Happy_face profile image
25 Replies

Hi all,

I just wanted to ask if anyone has undergone mild IVF treatment and what are the sucsess rates in comparison to conventional IVF? This protocol was suggested to me by the hospital as I suffered from OHSS during my first treatment, but from what I was told it, may result in less eggs being retrieved but of better quality.

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25 Replies
Londonlady2024 profile image
Londonlady2024

Hi, I was at risk of ohss last year in October due to high number of follicles and high estrogen (when follicles grow big, estrogen increases). This was unplanned and my trigger shot was changed. I was not put on mild IVF after that cycle in Feb /Mar this year. Instead the dose was slightly lowered. Your clinic should monitor everything and either increase or decrease your meds accordingly.

The first cycle is trial and error. Mine was NHS funded and I was on long protocol when I started my IVF journey. I was then put on short protocol for future cycles where I was on stims for no longer than 2 weeks.

They would have seen how you respond to meds. Mild IVF/short protocol can work for many especially women over 40.

I hope this helps.

Happy_face profile image
Happy_face in reply toLondonlady2024

Hi

My treatment is also NHS funded. I'm due a frozen transfer in late January of next year, with only one embryo fertilised during my first IVF treatment with icsi. I'm hoping for a better second round with more eggs collected and fertilised. Yes, I read that mild IVF is suitable for women over 40, I will turning 40 next year. I will speak with my doctors about altering the meds for the next cycle.

Thanks!!

CreateIVF profile image
CreateIVF

Hi there, I have done mild IVF but not due to OHSS risk just because I liked the sound of the gentler approach to treatment. I’ve actually done both mild (which is basically short protocol with low ish does stims) and natural modified. (150 dose for about 8 days) and I’ve actually had the same outcome of about 2 day 5 blasts each time. I have low AMH so it seems I get the same outcome regardless.. feel free to DM me if you want to speak about the clinic I’m with or just shout with any questions!

K x

Happy_face profile image
Happy_face in reply toCreateIVF

Hi,

Yes, I hear it's more gentle on the body. I remember feeling a whole load of discomfort when stiming and I mentioned this to the hospital, but they insisted that I continue taking the medication which, unfortunately led to me becoming very ill after the egg retrieval. I guess that's why the hospital is concerned and suggested mild IVF. My treatment is currently NHS funded. Thank you for the information, I will definitely reach out for future questions ☺️ xx

ForABabyPanda profile image
ForABabyPanda in reply toHappy_face

Have you had more than one nhs funded go??

ForABabyPanda profile image
ForABabyPanda in reply toForABabyPanda

We only get one go in NI, which is sad

Happy_face profile image
Happy_face in reply toForABabyPanda

Sorry to hear. I feel like they should at least give all women 2 rounds, because the first round may not always work for some.

Happy_face profile image
Happy_face in reply toForABabyPanda

Hi,

So far I have had one cycle which I'm currently still undergoing. I qualify for another cycle based on the results from the first cycle.

Cuppppatea profile image
Cuppppatea in reply toCreateIVF

Hey - have you done any high dose cycles to compare ? I am considering mild ivf but it’s difficult to choose. I have two normal short cycles behind me.

CreateIVF profile image
CreateIVF in reply toCuppppatea

Hello, the highest does I did was 300 Gonal F. I got better quality embryos (and the same number!) when I did 150 Gonal F and it was a bit more of a slower and well paced growth. Obviously everyone is different but if I was doing another egg collection I’d definitely go with natural modified again. It was the one for me. Best of luck xxxx

Cuppppatea profile image
Cuppppatea in reply toCreateIVF

Hey - have both these cycles been with create? I was suggested natural modified with create and 'Mild' with crgh - which is basically not mild its high dose but just every other day and using Clomid... so confusing

CreateIVF profile image
CreateIVF in reply toCuppppatea

Both of them were with Create.

They do “mild” which is basically short protocol, (for me it was 250-300 dose with no down regulation and for like 7/8 days), they do natural modified and they do totally natural cycles too. K

ForABabyPanda profile image
ForABabyPanda

yeah support nurse on here suggested it but my clinic never did. I would have asked about it if I went again but my experience with my clinic was everything I asked about resulted in more delays so I gave ip asking things.d mild ivf would have been perfect for me as I didn’t want to create too many embryos, and higher quality would have been better! As it was I had more eggs than I wanted to ICSI so I could have afforded to do mild ivf but my clinic (nhs) seemed to just cookie cutter everyone.

Happy_face profile image
Happy_face in reply toForABabyPanda

I think it's good to raise any suggestions you may have, to your clinic/hospital in future, following your treatment. I like to do my own research when it comes to things. So I think it's a matter of knowing what works best for your body.

Nabsal profile image
Nabsal

yes that is so true that you could get less egg but there quality will be amazing. Mild ivf is perfect

Hopecontinues profile image
Hopecontinues

Hi,I have had OHSS a few times, so a clinic suggested mild ivf to me. I got a lot less eggs, but the same amount of viable embryos, so I'm a fan of this. It didn't work for me, but I had other factors.

Good luck.

X

Happy_face profile image
Happy_face in reply toHopecontinues

Thank you...best wishes to you too x

Chowlady14 profile image
Chowlady14

hi happy face. I had OHSS just over a year ago which was awful. I was so sick and very scared with vomiting, passing out, I looked 6 months pregnant, unbearable pain and I bled for 4 weeks after so they froze my embryos. Since that incident I’ve had serious issues getting my lining to thicken either natural/medicated or mixture and had 6 cycles cancelled in 10 months so we decided to try as a last vet a very mildly stimulated approach. Whilst my aim is to thicken my lining the follicles still grow and last cycle on 8 days of 75daily iu of gonal f I had 10 follicles on right and 12 left which sonographer commented was looking good if I had been doing egg collection. I’m my case that wasn’t the aim the frozen embryo transfer was (which sadly failed) and I know we have no idea of how many eggs would have been mature/fertilised etc but my point is that it was all looking positive. I’m now on day 11 of another mildly stimulated cycle which has similar outcomes regarding follicles to date and fingers crossed my lining is looking better than last months 7.1 (it was actually 7.9 day 8) I have been diagnosed with pcos historically but after being treated for an under-active thyroid this appeared to settle but the way I react to high IVF meds with OHSS makes me think I do have it. Also I feel much better on the mild IVF. My emotions are very stable and it’s not till I add the progesterone do I become a tired hungry horse. Hope this helps some xx

Happy_face profile image
Happy_face in reply toChowlady14

I suffered from similar symptoms as you also described, the most uncomfortable part was the excessive fluid build up in my abdomen which made it difficult to breathe, eat and drink. My doctors did not think i was at risk, due to the small amount of eggs collected from my first collection which was 7, with only 3 matured and 1 fertilised. However, despite my age which is 39, I do have a good egg reserve which can also put me at risk of OHSS from what I read online. I was due a fresh transfer but due to becoming ill, it was recommended that my body heals which I allowed myself 2 months to recover from. It's good to know what works well for your body and like you, I feel like mild IVF might be more ideal for me. I agree that all the symptoms that come with conventional IVF medication can reek havoc on our bodies and emotions. But i guess it leaves women no choice but to seek IVF treatment in order to fulfil their desires in wanting children, if natural conception won't allow you to.

Best wishes xx

Daughterofaking profile image
Daughterofaking

Hi, I did mild IVF at 38, had 9 eggs retrieved, 6 fertilised and 5 blastocyst. Transferred 2 and it smplantaed. So for my experience mild ilIVF is better with less drugs and less days of stimulation resulting in though less quantity of eggs compared to conventional but with betterquality of eggs.

It did not mess up with my emotions or did I have unusual effect. I just felt alright. Within q4 days it was all over, the stimulation, egg collection and transfer. So for me I would say its worth it.

I wish you all the best in your journey. xx

Happy_face profile image
Happy_face in reply toDaughterofaking

That's great! Thank you xx

WHeatherW profile image
WHeatherW in reply toDaughterofaking

Hello, I know this is an old post but hoping you might see - I'm 39 and about to do mild ivf after two poor rounds of normal ivf. Just wondered if you had done normal IVF before the mild and how the number of eggs collected differed etc. Thanks xx

Daughterofaking profile image
Daughterofaking

Hi WheaterW, I just did only one mild ivf, that resulted in 5 blastocyst. I was 38 at the time I did mild ivf at Create, I only did 6 days of stimulation and 9 eggs were collected, 6 were fertilised and I had 5 blastocyst After that, I had a fresh transfer of 2 embryos. 2 of them sticked, though l lost 1 at about 6 weeks.

After that pregnancy, I went ahead to get pregnant naturally twice, one in 2022 and the next kne in 2023, j just had my last baby in April. So that's my history. Though I had 3 embryo left and always think about it and j decided to go ahead with a Frozen transfer, 2 was transferred and none implanted but after 2 months I got pregnant naturally.

So , I only did I egg collection and transferred twice. The only ivf I did was the mild ivf at Create Fertility.

For me, I think it's the best, it did not stress me at all and I just felt normal and it turned out to be successful. I think it's gentle with my body, not pumping it with too much hormones. Though mine was a case of unexplained infertility.

I will advise tou give it a try, because it's all about quality not quantity of eggs. So at 39 I will advise tou go ahead with a mild ivf.

I wish tou all the best and I havemy fingers crossed for you. Feel free to ask me any question. xx

WHeatherW profile image
WHeatherW in reply toDaughterofaking

Ahh that's amazing and massive congratulations!! I'm happy my clinic has decided to do something different and not just keep going on the same plan which clearly wasn't working for me. Fingers crossed mild IVF is the golden ticket for me! Thank you xx

Daughterofaking profile image
Daughterofaking in reply toWHeatherW

Sure. I think it will make a whole lot of difference. The number of eggs gotten shall be of quality not just quantity. I wish you all the best in your journey and I can't wait to ready your success stories xx

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