Fertility treatments have advanced rapidly, however, not every couple needs or wants high-dose hormonal stimulation. For such couples, natural cycle IVF becomes the right option. This approach follows your body’s rhythm, making it an alternative to traditional IVF. Just like any other medical treatment, it has its strengths and limitations.
What Is a Natural IVF Cycle?
A natural IVF cycle is a version of IVF where it works with your body’s natural hormones instead of using stimulation injections to produce multiple eggs. In this particular process, it retrieves the single egg your body naturally selects during the menstrual cycle.
Put simply, it is IVF without strong fertility medications.
How Natural-Cycle IVF Works
- Monitoring – Blood tests and ultrasounds help you track the natural follicle growth.
- Egg Retrieval – Only, a single mature egg is collected.
- Fertilisation – The egg is combined with sperm in the lab.
- Embryo Transfer – If fertilisation occurs, the embryo is transferred in the uterus.
The treatment is considered gentler and more natural, as the medication is minimal
Who Is Suitable for Natural IVF?
- Patients who respond poorly to stimulate medications
- Patients with diminished ovarian reserve
- Patients with history of cancelled IVF cycles
- Patients who prefer a low-medication approach
- Patients at risk of OHSS (Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome)
It is not ideal for women who need multiple eggs for genetic testing or frozen embryo banking.
Natural IVF vs Traditional IVF
The two can be compared as follows:
| Category | Natural IVF | Traditional IVF |
| Egg Quantity | Retrieves one egg | Retrieves multiple eggs |
| Medications | Less or no hormones | High dose |
| Cost | Costs less but my increase with repeated cycles | May cost higher |
| Side Effects | Fewer side effects due fewer medications | May have temporary common side effects like nausea, bloating etc |
| Success Rate | Lower per cycle | Higher per cycle |
Natural IVF vs Minimal Stimulation IVF
Natural IVF just uses one, while minimal stimulation IVF uses medications which are low dosage to grow a few eggs, not as many as traditional IVF.
Natural IVF:
- Uses 0-1 eggs.
- There is no stimulation, in some cases, minimal suppression is done.
Mini IVF:
- Uses 3-5 eggs.
- There are mild hormone injections, where minimal stimulation is used.
Minimal Stimulation IVD is great for women who can tolerate hormones but prefer a low-dose treatment. Natural IVF is best for women who cannot tolerate hormones.
Pros of Natural-Cycle IVF
- There are no heavy medications
- Usually, the treatment cost is low (if multiple cycles are needed, the cost can increase)
- Lower risk of complications
- Less stressful and more comfortable
- Great option for women with natural ovulation patterns
Cons, Drawbacks & Risks of Natural IVF
- Only one egg per cycle
- Higher chances of cycle cancellation
- Lower success rates per cycle
- Requires very precise timing
- May need several attempts to reach pregnancy
- Risk of retrieving an immature or poor-quality egg
While minimal medications are needed, natural IVF is not risk-free, failed fertilisation or failed embryo growth is more common.
Success Rates of Natural-Cycle IVF
The success rate of natural IVF cycle is comparatively lower than traditional IVF. As only one egg is retrieved, the chances of an embryo forming are lesser.
Natural-cycle success rates range around 6-15% per cycle, depending on factors such as:
- Age
- Ovarian reserve
- Egg quality
- Sperm health
- Fertility history
Most clinics recommend multiple natural cycles to increase the success rate, overall.
Where Natural IVF Fits (Best-Case Scenarios)
You should go for natural IVF when:
- You are under 37 with regular ovulation
- You cannot tolerate hormone injections
- You have not faced any success with stimulated IVF cycles
- You are at risk of OHSS
- You are looking for a fertility treatment that is closest to natural conception
Where Natural IVF Fails (Limitations to Know)
Natural IVF might not work well when:
- You need multiple embryos for testing
- You want to freeze embryos for future use
- The egg quality is poor
- The menstrual cycles are irregular
- If you have limited time and success is expected faster
Emotional & Financial Considerations
Natural IVF is usually less stressful emotionally due to fewer medications and fewer clinic visits. However, repeated cycles may increase frustration.
The natural cycle IVF cost is lower than stimulated IVF, but because success per cycle is lower. However, many patients end up paying for multiple cycles, sometimes making the total cost similar.
Conclusion
Natural cycle IVF is a promising approach for certain patients, especially those who want a low-medication option or who have consistently low ovarian response. While it offers gentler treatment and lower costs, it does not work for everyone. Understanding where it fits and where it fails helps you choose the right fertility strategy tailored to your body and goals.
FAQs
- What are the risks of natural IVF?
A.The risks are early ovulation, cycle cancellation, retrieving an immature egg and lower fertilisation rates. The risks are lower than traditional IVF. - When to try naturally after failed IVF?
A.Usually, doctors advise waiting one complete cycle to allow the body to recover before trying naturally. - Does IVF follow your natural cycle?
A.Yes, natural cycle IVF specifically follows your natural menstrual cycle without stimulating multiple eggs.
