Although the pregnancy rates following IVF-ET after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation are slowly but continuously improving, there are economic, religious and ethical reasons why IVF in natural ovulation cycle offers and attractive alternative.
It has
been also suggested that the endometrial receptivity for embryos transferred in hyperstimulated cycles is lower than that in natural cycles.
From January, 1989 to December, 1993, 143 cycles of natural cycle IVF were performed in 108 infertile patients at SNUH. HCG was administered on MCD#13.5±3.5, and transvaginal oocyte retrieval was performed on MCD#15.0±3.5. The mean diameter of
follicle was 18.71±1.51 mm on day of hCG administration, and 19.96±1.64 mm on day of oocyte retrieval. Out of 94 oocytes retrieved (the oocyte retrieval rate per cycle, 65.7%), the preovulatory mature oocytes were 84(89.4%). Seventy-four
oocytes
were
fertilized in vitro and cleaved with the oocyte fertilization, and cleavage rate of 83.1%. After ET, 12 pregnancies were obtained with the pregnancy rate per patient, 11.1%; per cycle, 8.4%; per oocyte retrieval, 12.8%;per ET, 16.2%.
@EN These data suggest that the results of natural cycle IVF compare well with hyperstimulated cycle IVF and natural cycle IVF is a useful and reasonable treatment modality, particularly in well selected infertile couples.
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