IVF without drugs?

Researchers have found that giving drugs to make the ovaries produce extra eggs may be unnecessary for many women undergoing IVF (in vitro fertilisation) treatment. The team, based at King's College Hospital in London, showed that in 60-70 per cent of cases, the overall chances of pregnancy are just as good if doctors collect eggs produced during a woman's natural cycle. The research was published in the latest issue of Human Reproduction.

Dr Geeta Nargund and her colleagues studied the outcome of 181 cycles in 52 women who underwent 'natural' IVF treatment. They found that their chances of having a baby after three to four treatments were almost the same as for women who took ovary stimulating-drugs: 32 per cent compared to 34 per cent.

Compared to current methods, drug-free IVF treatment would be less stressful, safer and result in fewer multiple births. It would also reduce the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition that affects up to five per cent of women who undergo treatment.

The researchers pointed out that natural-cycle IVF would not be suitable for women who do not ovulate regularly, and probably also not for couples undergoing ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) treatment. Also, ovary stimulation provides spare embryos for freezing, which is an important consideration for some women as it potentially avoids the need for further egg collections. 'However, I hope that IVF units across the world will look at this research very carefully and accept that it is now time to offer natural cycle treatment as the main line of therapy where it is clinically appropriate' Dr Nargund said.