Mild IVF

[Bubblegum89]

Has anyone gone down this route?

I have unexplained secondary infertility and the fertility doctor told us our two options now are continue trying naturally or IVF. He said he doesn’t recommend IUI as an option for us. After doing a bit of research, I came across mild IVF which I had never heard of before. It’s the same price as standard IVF although medication costs are massively reduced because there is less to take over a shorter period. I have a 9 year old DD from a previous relationship so any treatment we have will need to be self-funded.

I have only read positive things about the mild IVF so far, and how it’s success rates are pretty good compared with normal IVF. I just wondered if anyone on here had had it or was considering doing it?

Hey @bubble 👋 I’m also trying to find out more info about mild ivf. I was feeling so positive and clear after my visit to Create’s open evening but am now having doubts that I’m just a sucker for a sales pitch!

I looked into it. My clinic said the aim was to retrieve only one or two eggs. I decided that the chance of having to do several rounds to equal the number of 'chances' vs normal ivf (plus extra for potential sibling) was not worth it for me. I did conventional and the fresh failed, fet worked. So maybe if I'd done natural I'd have had to do it twice, but who knows! Also be slightly careful with places like create, I have heard that their mild protocol can contain quite high drug doses! Good luck making your decision.

Yes be careful with Create, they will strongly advise you to take ‘low dose’ stimulation to ‘control’ the cycle. Their standard dose is 150 - 225 Gonal F and TBH other clinics would consider this doseage pretty average and not ‘low’. Thing is, CREATE’s results are piss poor compared to other clinics offering stimulated cycles, so if you are persuaded to stimulate, don’t bother with Create. Go somewhere that offers you decent results. The HFEA website shows results of all uk clinics to compare. I had 3 natural cycles with Create, no stimulation, transferred an embryo each time and still no BFP. The only reason I tried them was because I didn’t want to take any drugs and they’re pretty much the only clinic that do natural ivf. They massively pressured me to stimulate which I refused, and it was clear they weren’t happy about it as without drugs, they have to monitor you much closer to catch the egg as they need to predict when your body will naturally ovulate. One time they missed the egg altogether and we ended up with nothing. If I cycle again, it will be a stimulated cycle and not with Create, I’ll go somewhere that offers better chances. Good luck x

I have to echo scotfishgirl's comments on drug dosage. I opted for Create as was led to believe it would be mild stimulation. Upon receiving my treatment plan I compared it with the NHS short protocol and it was near enough the same. Their drug pricing is also ridiculous. A 50% percent mark up and their invoicing is full of errors. The level of care provided wasn't great and inconsistent. My cycle was unsuccesful and I'm looking elsewhere for my next one.

It worked well for me after two failed convention cycles and I'm 8w pregnant. I had the same number of oocyctes at 75 iu per day as I had had with 300 and 400 but the fertilization rate was much higher.

It worked better for me than standard ivf and got me more eggs somehow and ultimately my daughter.

interesting lucieloos and dame and big congrats to the both of you!
did you both use Create? I'm wondering if it's more effective for those over 40

No I had treatment abroad as it was so much cheaper. Couldn't afford uk prices.

I'm guessing Create is a clinic? No, didn't use them. Any private clinic should be able to do a mild/mini IVF protocol; no idea whether the NHS do it. Mine didn't offer it initially but looked into it when I asked.

I didn’t have ‘mild’ ivf (not totally sure what that involves, presumably lower dose / different drugs) but I did have 3 cycles of ‘natural’ ivf (no drugs) at CRGH. Recommended on the basis that my ovarian reserve was low and unlikely to get lots of eggs with stumulation and in theory the egg released naturally by the body will most likely be the ‘best’ one. No need for drugs and side effects and no need to wait between cycles. Success rates low but my success rates were predicted to be low anyway.

Collected one egg each cycle and made it to embryo transfer two cycles (3rd cycle the embryo stops developing). Didn’t work for me but provided valuable information that the embryos were poor quality. After 3 cycles I didn’t have the heart (or the money) to carry on rolling the dice. I was very sad at the time but later went on to have a child via egg donation.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Hey there, did you decide to use create in the end? Iv had a consultation there and waiting to start my ivf, it would be great to hear about your experience if you did go with them?

It’s a waste of money. Create’s ‘natural IVF’ uses more drugs than the short antagonist protocol I was put on, but produces less eggs.

Thanks for the response, I'm not going for natural it's just mild ivf... Getting a bit worried now :(

I had a great response on mild. Better than I did on short protocol. It's all about quality over quantity though and you might respond differently to somebody else. Don't be worried. Mild ivf resulted in my baby girl and there's no reason it couldn't for you too.