Home-based ovulation monitoring during IVF equally safe and successful- study

Home-based monitoring of ovulation prior to placing frozen embryos during an IVF process works just as well as hospital checks, a new study has shown.

Researchers from Amsterdam UMC and the Jeroen Bosch hospital looked at whether there was a difference in pregnancy chances between monitoring at home and monitoring at the hospital.

A total of 1,464 women participated in this study – 732 women underwent home monitoring of ovulation and the other 732 women had ovulation monitored in hospital. At-home monitoring consists of the monitoring of urinal hormone levels.

The study, published in The Lancet, found that monitoring ovulation at home was not only as good as hospital monitoring, but it was also more cost-effective.

The research suggested it was more pleasant for women to undergo monitoring in their own environment, placing also less burden on the hospital facilities.

“Monitoring ovulation at home means a hospital visit once for the placement of these embryos instead of three to four times for hospital monitoring,” said Tijtske Zaat, researcher at Amsterdam UMC.

“This is more sustainable and reduces the cost of treatment by up to 80 per cent.”

During IVF, placing embryos in the natural cycle is preferable. It is then unnecessary to treat women with medication for a long time, as it could increase the risk of complications in pregnancy.

However, if there is no regular cycle, an artificial cycle is created. In both cases monitoring is necessary to track ovulation.

Home-based ovulation monitoring has many benefits, researchers claim, including sustainability and cost-effectiveness.

“Women experience home monitoring as more private and they feel more empowered during this treatment,” explained project leader, Femke Mol.

“In addition, there are significant benefits when it comes to durability and cost when women can do most of this treatment from home.

“There are far fewer travel movements, so it’s also better for the environment.”