In Vitro Fertility Goddess

Mild IVF

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Wednesday 9 April, 2008 

Healthier, more cost effective and with similar results to conventional IVF treatment.

That's the conclusion of Japanese study which looked into the new so-called "mild IVF" technique.  

The technique involves a short course of the fertility pill Clomid followed by only a few days of fertility-boosting injections instead of the conventional month-long course which can involve up to 40 jabs.

Dr Shokichi Teramoto from the Kato Ladies Clinic in Tokyo found that 23% of women who used the mild IVF technique in his clinic ended up with a successful pregnancy, only 6.6% less than those who undertook conventional IVF treatment.

Dr Teramoto says the mild technique not only cuts IVF treatment costs by up to 25%, it also limits the side effects associated with injections. Mood swings, bloating and the potentially fatal ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome have all been linked to over-stimulation which can also damage a woman's eggs and affect the fertility of her offspring.

His study has significant repercusions for Britain after the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology recently found that the country had one of the worst fertility treatment safety records. The ESHRE says British women are up to four times more likely to experience serious complications as a result of fertility treatment than those living in other European countries.

The UK has the highest levels of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome which is the most serious side-effect of IVF treatment which can lead to kidney failure and even death in some rare cases. 

Jodi Panayotov