Natural cycle IVF involves collecting and fertilising the one egg that you release during your normal monthly cycle. No fertility drugs are used in this treatment.

It may be worth discussing this treatment option with your clinician if your periods are fairly regular and you are ovulating normally, but:

you are unable to take fertility drugs (for example, cancer patients or those whose clinician has suggested that they are at risk of OHSS – ovarian hyper-stimulation – a dangerous over-reaction to fertility drugs) because for personal or religious beliefs you do not wish to have surplus eggs or embryos destroyed or stored.

The treatment is the same as conventional IVF, but without the fertility drugs that are used to stop natural egg production and hormones that boost the supply of eggs.

As your ovaries aren’t being artificially stimulated, you don’t need to rest as you would after conventional IVF.

If your treatment is unsuccessful, you can try again sooner if you wish.