Is IVF-Naturelle worthwhile in the age of chromosome screening (= preimplantation screening, PIS)?

Mikroskop-Untersuchung in einem IVF-Labor.

PIS is now largely unlimited in Switzerland and is allowed in Germany and Austria for certain indications. This technique is promoted saying that it increases the success rate of traditional IVF i.e., IVF with hormone stimulation.

However, this is wrong. For each stimulation, the success rate of IVF after PIS does not increase, but it is likely to decrease due to embryo manipulation. Only the pregnancy rate after the first transfer increases because the embryos with the highest pregnancy potential are selected. There are fewer embryo transfers per stimulation and follicular puncture.

Using PIS, the woman may be become pregnant a little quicker, but not better. There are very few indications for which PIS makes sense: this includes women around the age of 40 with a high reserve of ovaries. Since time is of the essence at this age, it makes sense to select and, if possible, transfer only the very best embryos and start the next stimulation as soon as possible, if necessary.

In the case of the IVF-Naturelle®, the aim is to minimize manipulation and selection by the laboratory. The risks of PIS for the children are still unclear, and we prefer to rely on nature’s own selection. PIS does not make any sense with IVF-Naturelle®, as there is usually only one embryo.

IVF-Naturelle ® is therefore worthwhile, even in the age of PIS. IVF-Naturelle® is and remains the IVF technique with the least strain on the patients. Since overall chances of pregnancy cannot be increased by PIS, IVF-Naturelle® continues to hold a firm place in reproductive medicine and harnesses the natural processes that have been optimized over millions of years.