MINIMAL AND LOW DOSE STIMULATION ( LOW DOSE IVF)
at the Brandeis Fertility Center in New York
Minimal Dose Stimulation involves the use of very low doses of oral or injectable medications to help the ovaries produce multiple follicles and egg cells.
By producing a limited number of follicles with minimal doses - we are stimulating the growth of those several follicles/cells that are hopefully the most likely for that month to fertilize and develop into healthy embryos.
With Minimal stimulation IVF, we begin stimulating the follicles to grow starting on day 3 or 4 of a natural cycle. By using less medications, we have the advantage of monitoring the patient less often - fewer injections and fewer blood test and office visits.
Prior to using minimal dose stimulation, all patients must undergo a screening cycle to determine
1. The baseline levels of FSH, LH, and Estradiol during the menstrual cycle.
2. Levels of Estradiol, and Progesterone several days before ovulation and several days after as well.
By understanding the hormone levels in a natural cycle - we are able to present to the patient a better understanding of exactly how her natural cycle works. We are especially interested in deficiencies in Estradiol in the days that proceed ovulation as well as the levels of Estradiol and Progesterone on days 3, 6, 9, and to coordinate these levels to the thickness of the endometerium after ovulation has occurred.
We use our baseline screening study cycle to help determine which medications and what doses of medications are likely to benefit the patient.
In addition to the screening cycle, we also take into the consideration
1. Past response to medications
2. Baseline hormone levels
3. Antral follicle count
4. Patients age
5. Past fertility efforts
There is no one protocol for minimal dose stimulation.
However the following protocols are examples that might be applicable, based on the patient's individual persona.
1. Clomid Only
Patients given clomid tablets days 2 to 6, or 3 to 7. This oral medication increases the production of FSH and LH which in turn causes several follicles to develop. No injections for stimulation or ovulation are used with this protocol.
2. Clomid HCG
Some patient who do not ovulate with clomid only or patients who have a low Estradiol and/or Progesterone after ovulation are encouraged to take clomid with HCG.
3. Clomid Repronex HCG
Clomid Repronex HCG is an excellent protocol for patients who
1. Have irregular cycles
2. Whose follicles who do not develop beyond 16mm.
3. Endometriumal lining is thin at the time of ovulation and/or after ovulation.
Low/Moderate Stimulation
Some patients require low doses of daily injections to achieve adequate follicle development. Patients who benefit include
1. Do not respond to clomid
2. Have moderate elevation of FSH on a baseline study.
3. Unexplained infertility.
4. Few follicles seen on baseline study.
Daily injections are done usually starting day 3 or 4 after a baseline Estradiol, LH, FSH is obtained. It is important to be sure there are no significant cyst on either ovary. Therefore baseline of sonogram is done during the menstrual cycle.
Patients are seen every other day or some cases every third day to follow the growth of the follicles. Sonograms and blood testing if needed are done.
When several follicles reach a mature size - HCG is given.
The advantage of low dose stimulation is that there is much less risk of hyper-stimulation and multiple birth.
Because we do not expect to have any follicles even with high dose stimulation - patients have the benefit of stimulating their best follicles/eggs and hopefully the follicle will be stronger and more developed from an endocrine standpoint.
There are many medication choices to pick from. The dose and particular medications chosen is a function the screening cycle and past response to medications.
The following is a summary presentation of recommended recent articles in medical journals
Minimal Stimulation IVF
MILD OVARIAN STIMULATION
(Check, J. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 2007 Dec: 24(12): 621-7)
Dr. Jerome Check of Jersey Shore University Medical Center studied the three types of minimal intervention protocols for IVF:
1. Natural cycle
2. Modified natural cycle using FSH boost
3. Minimal FSH stimulation
The study showed that patients with minimal stimulation are more likely to have an egg at the time of retrieval than those who are on a completely natural cycle.
Minimal stimulation was particularly useful in women with elevated Day-3 FSH, especially those younger than 35. He theorizes that the quality of oocytes in women younger than 35 with baseline FSH >12 is more likely better than that of oocytes from older women with the same FSH levels.
Likewise, minimal stimulation is useful for patients who failed IVF using standard protocols. It is possible that in these patients, conventional stimulation doses produce an abnormal uterine environment that is not favorable to conception.
Dr. Check therefore recommends minimal stimulation IVF as the first choice for patients with normal ovarian reserve (normal baseline FSH/E2) undergoing their first IVF cycle, as well as for patients who failed to conceive using the high-dose protocols.


