IVF or Soft-IVF™ Treatment?

This document is designed to help you decide between IVF and Soft-IVF™ treatment.

 

The decision of which treatment is the most appropriate for you is based on a review of your reproductive medical history and the results of your infertility testing.

 

Our goal is to select a treatment which will most likely, expeditiously, and economically result in a successful pregnancy.

The following algorithm can be used to help you determine whether you are a candidate for IVF, Soft-IVF, or both.

 

If you have any questions regarding your treatment options or need help with the algorithm, please call or email us.

 

It is important that you start with step #1 and answer the following questions to the best of your ability.

1. Do you plan to do Gender Selection?

    

    

   Answer	Action	Note
   Yes	IVF	Soft-IVF typically does not produce high enough number of embryos for PGD.
   No	Go to Step #2

    

    

2. Have you had TWO or more conventional IVF treatments and were told that each time your ovarian response was suboptimal?

    

    

   Answer	Action	Note
   Yes	Soft-IVF	Soft-IVF has been used as an alternative treatment option for "low responders".
   No	Go to Step #3

    

    

3. Without taking any medications to regulate your menstrual periods, are MOST of your menstrual cycles LONGER than 35 days?

    

    

   Answer	Action	Note
   Yes	IVF	Long cycles are a common sign of a lack of spontaneous ovulation. Regular ovulation is a prerequisite for Soft-IVF treatment.
   No	Go to Step #4

    

    

4. Have you had one or more conventional IVF treatments and developed severe ovarian hyperstimulation?

    

    

   Answer	Action	Note
   Yes	Soft-IVF	The likelihood of a significant degree of ovarian hyperstimulation is all but eliminated with Soft-IVF.
   No	Go to Step #5

    

    

5. Is your age (female partner) 43 years or higher?

    

    

   Answer	Action	Note
   Yes	Soft-IVF	Your probability of success with conventional IVF is low. You may have the same (or somewhat better) probability of a successful pregnancy with Soft-IVF with reduced treatment complexity and cost.
   No	Go to Step #6

    

    

6. Are you (female partner) younger than 40?

    

    

   Answer	Action	Note
   Yes	Go to Step #7
   No	IVF	You should try to maximize the probability of a successful pregnancy with conventional IVF.

    

    

7. Has your Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) level on cycle day 1, 2, 3, or 4 ever been 9.0 or greater?

    

    

   Answer	Action	Note
   Yes	IVF	Elevated FSH level may be a sign of diminished "Ovarian Reserve".
   No or Do Not Know	Go to Step #8

    

    

8. Have you been sexually active without contraception for 36 months or more without a successful pregnancy?

    

    

   Answer	Action	Note
   Yes	IVF	Longstanding infertility may require conventional IVF to maximize the probability of success.
   No	Go to Step #9

    

    

9. In ANY of your semen analyses, has "total motile sperm count" per ejaculate been below 4 million?

    

   Calculate the total motile sperm count per ejaculate by multiplying the semen volume in milliliters (ml) times sperm concentration (sperm count) in millions per ml times fraction of total motile sperm.

    

   For example:

    

   Volume = 3.2 ml
   Sperm concentration = 30 million/ml
   Total motility = 30% (or 0.3)
   3.2 x 30 x 0.3 = 28.8 (total motile sperm in millions)

    

    

   Answer	Action	Note
   Yes	IVF	For this degree of male infertility, conventional IVF will improve the probability of creating a sufficient number of embryos.
   No or Do Not Know	Go to Step #10

    

    

10. Do you want to maximize the likelihood of having extra embryos to freeze and store for your potential future use?

     

     

    Answer	Action	Note
    Yes	IVF	Soft-IVF typically does not produce sufficient number of "extra" embryos to freeze.
    No	Go to Step #11

     

     

11. Do you prefer to minimize your cost or to maximize the probability of success?

     

     

    Answer	Action	Note
    Minimize Cost	Soft-IVF	You may find the difference in the probability of success between conventional IVF and Soft-IVF insignificant and select Soft-IVF treatment to minimize your treatment cost.
    Maximize Success	IVF	You may find the cost difference between conventional IVF and Soft-IVF at Bay IVF Center insignificant and select conventional IVF treatment to maximize the probability of a successful pregnancy.
    No Preference	IVF or Soft-IVF	You will likely be a candidate for either treatment and can delay your final decision until you have completed your prerequisites.

     

If you have any questions regarding the decision between In Vitro Fertilization, and Soft-IVF, please contact us by phone at 650-322-0500 or via email at care@BayIVF.com, or use the Contact Bay IVF Center form on this page.

 

Please visit softivf.com for additional information related to the Soft-IVF treatment.