What has been your experience of Modified Natural IVF?

[Clt1983]

Hi All,

I’ve had two unsuccessful cycles of IVF. First time, 7 eggs but only one made it to blastocyst to transfer. Second time, 12 eggs and again just one blastocyst to transfer. Nothing to freeze on either occasion. Both BFN.

I’m 37, AMH and AFC both normal, I responded fine to medication and no issues on my partner’s side so the doctors are now assuming it’s an issue with my egg quality. For my next cycle it’s been suggested that we do natural modified IVF and combine this with ICSI to give us the best possible chance.

Has anyone been in a similar position and how did you find this and did it have the desired outcome?

Thanks in advance

I had a good outcome changing to natural modified IVF - I had twins!

I was age 36-37 with a slightly below average AMH (12.9)

cycle 1 - short protocol IVF with ICSI - 14 eggs but less than 30% fertilised. 2 average blastocysts. 2x FET both BFN

cycle 2 - short protocol IVF with ICSI - 14 eggs again less than 30% fertilised. 2 average quality blastocysts. Decided to Pgs them (history of miscarriage). Neither came back normal - one was a low level mosaic which was allowed to transfer but was a BFN

So for me short protocol produced rubbish results

I was with Create by the way. I then said I wanted to change to natural modified IVF with ICSI and signed up to a 3 cycle a package

cycle 3 - natural modified IVF with ICSI- 2 eggs, 100% fertilised and 2 top quality blastocysts

cycle 4 - natural modified IVF with ICSI (with slight tweak to medication) - 9 eggs 100% fertilised and 2 top quality blastocysts

cycle 5 - had to revert back to more of a short protocol mild stim protocol as tamoxifen makes my lining too thick and I wanted to do a transfer. 2 eggs both fertilised but awful quality and didn't get any to blastocyst

Transferred 2 of my frozen embryos and had twins. So it does seem like for me that the natural modified IVF protocol was the key to my egg quality issues

Thanks @andivfmakes3, that’s really helpful to read. And twins, wow! Can I ask what the medication was like doing this approach, was it low doses throughout or was it fluctuating? Also did you go in more or less frequently for scans compared to your IVF please?

Cycle 1 was pure natural Modified so tamoxifen tablets from cycle day 3 and then 150ml Bemfola every OTHER day

Cycle 2 was tamoxifen tablets and 75ml Luveris 75ml Bemfola - started as every other day but after a couple of days upped to daily

Whole process over in about 10 days

I had the same number of scans as I did with my short protocol cycles so every other day

I've never had natural modified but @andivfmakes3 you've given me a ray of hope. I just had a failed 2nd ivf with nothing to transfer as both embies arrested after CD3. Last year had 1 not so great blast. I'm 43 so that doesn't help.

Following this as well - we had an unsuccessful attempt in April (9 eggs, 1 average blast) from short protocol using only menopur. No issues with med response, and using donor sperm, so probably egg quality as I’m 42.
Doing a second attempt at the end of this month, but if that doesn’t work, we’ll probably do a last attempt with natural modified.

@andivfmakes3 How did you find Create? Suspect that’s where we’d go. I assume their mild IVF is basically a short protocol (if you know)? Am I reading right that their three cycle is three collections back to back and then a transfer at the end?

@andivfmakes3 can you please share the protocols for the natural modified? Would like to consider them for my next round. Thanks.

@Delectable

My natural modified protocol was as follows

Cycle 1 was pure natural Modified so tamoxifen tablets from cycle day 3 and then 150ml Bemfola every OTHER day

Cycle 2 was tamoxifen tablets and 75ml Luveris 75ml Bemfola - started as every other day but after a couple of days upped to daily

Thanks very much for this. Mu h appreciated.

@Aprilia123

Yes Creates "mild" IVF is short protocol so no down regging

I really liked Create (Birmingham) - all the staff very friendly and felt like they genuinely cared about getting you a successful outcome and didn't treat me like a walking cheque book. One of the nurses id seen a lot during my 5 cycles was really emotional when I told her I got a BFP with my twins

But I think my experience felt so personal because I stuck with them through 5 cycles in 18 months - I was always there! 🤣
I also did a lot of research and questioned everything so felt well informed.

I had some scans etc at Create St Paul's and didn't get the same "feel" about them
Also the 2 branches seem to have a different approach to natural modified IVF- at Birmingham they said theyd always aim to get more than one follicle whereas St Paul's was very much one only (but maybe they say that to manage expectations?)

Yes with the 3 cycle package you do 3 egg collections before you then do a transfer (so you are effectively trying to embryo bank). With natural modified IVF you can do the collections back to back without a break inbetween. My package including ICSI and all drugs cost £13.5k

@Delectable @Aprilia123 Sorry I realise this is an old thread, but I'm curious whether you ended up trying natural IVF, and how you found it?

I'm considering it after two cancelled cycles and conventional IVF basically getting me nowhere. Thank you...

Painful to say we don't yet have a BFP. I hope it works for you. Keep trying.

@Delectable I'm really sorry to hear that. It can be such a long journey... Wishing you all the best and thank you for taking the time to reply.

Did your partners have the SpermComet test and a urine culture in addition to basic sperm analysis? My partner’s sperm was “amazing” but when we looked closer he had high sperm DNA fragmentation caused by a hidden infection. Once treated we went on to have a good cycle with ICSI. I have challenges on my side too but when I see posts relating to a partner having no issues I always like to mention because it cost us years of unnecessary additional stress 💛