Mini IVF Surgery in Thailand (Minimal Stimulation IVF)

Mini IVF offers the proven science of in vitro fertilisation with a gentler, lower-dose approach to ovarian stimulation. For patients who want to avoid the high medication doses and side effects of conventional IVF — or who are unlikely to benefit from aggressive stimulation — Mini IVF provides a safer, more affordable alternative. Thailand's fertility clinics are experienced in minimal stimulation protocols and deliver expert care at a fraction of what you would pay in the US, UK, or Australia.

Procedure 2–3 weeks (full cycle)

Hospital Stay Day procedure (egg retrieval)

Recovery 1–2 days after retrieval

Minimum Stay 12–18 days

What Is Mini IVF?

Minimal stimulation IVF uses lower medication doses — or oral tablets instead of injections — to produce a small number of high-quality eggs, typically two to five per cycle. Eggs are collected, fertilised, and the best embryo transferred, following the same process as conventional IVF with fewer side effects.

Drawing on protocols pioneered in Japan, Mini IVF is particularly suited to patients with low ovarian reserve or those who respond poorly to conventional stimulation. The gentler approach reduces the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation while still producing embryos of excellent quality for transfer or freezing.

Common Concerns Mini IVF Can Address

Concerned about the side effects and physical burden of high-dose stimulation
Poor ovarian reserve or low AMH, where high doses yield diminishing returns
Previous IVF cycle with a poor response to conventional stimulation
Prefer a more natural, less medicalised approach to fertility treatment
Looking for a lower-cost IVF option with reduced medication expense

Are You a Good Candidate?

In good general health
Had a fertility assessment including AMH and antral follicle count (or willing to complete one)
Understand that fewer eggs are collected per cycle, which may mean multiple cycles
Able to commit to a 2–3 week stay in Thailand

Techniques & Options

Mini IVF protocols use less medication than conventional IVF, but the approach can vary depending on your ovarian reserve, age, and treatment history. Your specialist will design a protocol tailored to your situation, balancing the goal of producing a few good eggs with minimal physical impact.

The two most common Mini IVF approaches are:

Oral Medication Protocol (Clomiphene / Letrozole-Based)

Oral medication — typically clomiphene citrate or letrozole — is used alone or in combination with very low-dose injectable gonadotropins to stimulate follicle growth. This approach produces fewer follicles than conventional IVF (usually 2–5) but with significantly lower medication costs and reduced side effects. It is the most common Mini IVF protocol.

Significantly lower medication costs than conventional IVF
Reduced risk of OHSS and fewer physical side effects
Well-suited to patients with low ovarian reserve

Low-Dose Injectable Protocol

Low doses of injectable gonadotropins are used from the start of stimulation, but at roughly one-third to one-half the dose used in conventional IVF. This approach produces slightly more follicles than oral-only protocols while still keeping medication exposure low. It may be recommended for patients who need slightly more stimulation but want to avoid a full conventional dose.

Moderate egg yield (typically 3–6 eggs)
Balance between stimulation and tolerability
Suitable for patients who did not respond well to oral medication alone

Recovery Timeline

Days 1–10

Stimulation begins with oral medication or low-dose injections, usually from day 2–3 of your menstrual cycle. Monitoring appointments every 2–3 days track follicle growth with ultrasound and blood tests. Because doses are lower, side effects such as bloating and discomfort are typically milder than with conventional IVF.

Day 10–14

Once your follicles reach the target size, a trigger injection prepares the eggs for collection. Egg retrieval is performed 34–36 hours later under light sedation. The procedure is usually quicker than in conventional IVF because fewer follicles are collected. You rest at the clinic and return to your hotel the same day.

Days 14–18

Your eggs are fertilised in the laboratory (using conventional IVF or ICSI, depending on your situation) and cultured. The embryology team will update you on fertilisation and embryo development. Because fewer embryos are produced, every embryo receives close individual attention.

Day 16–20

Embryo transfer — a painless procedure lasting about 10 minutes with no sedation required. The best embryo is placed into the uterus. If surplus good-quality embryos are available, they can be frozen for future use. A pregnancy blood test is taken 10–12 days later.

What to Expect

Gentler Lower medication doses and fewer side effects

30–45% Pregnancy rate per transfer (under 35)

Lower Cost Reduced medication expense compared to conventional IVF

Safety & Risks

Mini IVF carries the same general risks as conventional IVF, but several of the most common side effects — particularly those related to ovarian stimulation — are significantly reduced due to the lower medication doses.

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (significantly lower risk than conventional IVF)
Fewer eggs collected per cycle, which may reduce the chance of having surplus embryos to freeze
Mild bloating or discomfort during stimulation (usually milder than conventional IVF)

Cycle cancellation if no follicles develop adequately
Emotional and psychological stress
No guarantee of pregnancy per cycle

The reduced medication doses in Mini IVF mean that OHSS is very rare, and the physical burden of treatment is lighter. Your specialist will monitor you carefully throughout stimulation and adjust the protocol if needed. If Mini IVF does not produce a sufficient response, your specialist may recommend adjusting the protocol or considering conventional IVF.

How Much Does Mini IVF Cost in Thailand?

Our pricing is transparent and all-inclusive — your quote covers the full treatment cycle from consultations to embryo transfer.

Mini IVF

All-inclusive Mini IVF cycle

From $3,500

Fertility specialist consultations
Low-dose stimulation monitoring
Egg retrieval under sedation

Embryo culture & laboratory fees
Embryo transfer procedure
Dedicated care coordinator

Add Accommodation Package

Hotel, breakfast, airport transfers & 24/7 support

From $89 / night

Affordable suites on Sukhumvit Soi 23, a short ride from leading fertility clinics. Rooms include a kitchenette, daily breakfast, and access to the pool and fitness centre — a comfortable, budget-friendly base during your treatment.

A well-appointed serviced residence in the heart of Sukhumvit with full kitchen, washer-dryer, pool and gym. Ideal for patients on longer treatment cycles who want a home-away-from-home feel with hotel-level service.

A luxury hotel close to the clinic district, known for impeccable Japanese-standard service. Spacious rooms, an acclaimed spa, and 24-hour room service — the premium choice for a stress-free stay during treatment.

Common Questions About Mini IVF

Everything you need to know before your procedure

The laboratory process — egg retrieval, fertilisation, embryo culture, and transfer — is the same. The key difference is the stimulation phase: Mini IVF uses lower doses of medication (or oral medication instead of injections), producing fewer eggs per cycle (typically 2–5 instead of 8–15). This means lower medication costs, fewer side effects, and a reduced risk of OHSS, but also fewer embryos to work with per cycle.

Mini IVF is often recommended for patients with low ovarian reserve (low AMH or low antral follicle count), where high-dose stimulation is unlikely to produce significantly more eggs. It is also a good choice for patients who have experienced unpleasant side effects with conventional IVF, those concerned about the physical impact of high-dose stimulation, and patients seeking a more affordable IVF option.

Per-cycle pregnancy rates with Mini IVF are modestly lower than conventional IVF because fewer eggs and embryos are produced. However, the embryos that are produced are often of good quality, and cumulative success rates over multiple Mini IVF cycles can approach those of a single conventional IVF cycle — often at a lower total cost and with less physical stress.

Most Mini IVF cycles produce 2–5 mature eggs, compared to 8–15 with conventional IVF. The exact number depends on your ovarian reserve, age, and the stimulation protocol used. Your specialist will give you a realistic expectation based on your baseline assessment.

Yes. The procedure fees are similar, but medication costs are significantly lower — often 50–70% less than conventional IVF. In Thailand, the total cost of a Mini IVF cycle is typically 20–30% lower than a conventional cycle. However, if multiple cycles are needed, total costs can add up.

A full Mini IVF cycle requires 12–18 days in Thailand, from the start of stimulation through to embryo transfer. The timeline is similar to conventional IVF, though the stimulation phase may be slightly shorter due to lower medication doses.

Yes. PGT-A can be performed on embryos from a Mini IVF cycle, provided at least one embryo reaches the blastocyst stage. However, because fewer embryos are produced, there is a higher chance that no embryos will be suitable for testing or that all tested embryos are abnormal. Your specialist will discuss whether PGT-A is advisable in your case.

Our Mini IVF pricing includes specialist consultations, stimulation monitoring, egg retrieval under sedation, embryo culture and laboratory fees, and embryo transfer. Medication costs are quoted separately and are significantly lower than for conventional IVF. Your coordinator will provide a complete breakdown before you commit.

If stimulation does not produce any mature follicles, the cycle may be cancelled before egg retrieval. If only one or two eggs are retrieved and none fertilise normally, your specialist will review the cycle and may recommend adjusting the protocol, trying another Mini IVF cycle, or considering conventional IVF. The low medication cost means that a cancelled Mini IVF cycle is less financially impactful than a cancelled conventional cycle.

Yes. The fertilisation method — conventional IVF or ICSI — is independent of the stimulation protocol. If there is a male factor issue or your specialist recommends it for other reasons, ICSI can be used to fertilise the eggs collected in a Mini IVF cycle.

Dr. Natthida Chaisiri

MEDICALLY REVIEWED

Dr. Natthida Chaisiri

MEDICALLY REVIEWED

Fertility Specialist · Bangkok

Last reviewed: February 18, 2026

Medical References

What's Included

Fertility specialist consultations
Low-dose stimulation monitoring
Egg retrieval under sedation
Embryo culture & laboratory fees
Embryo transfer procedure
Dedicated care coordinator

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Mini IVF in Thailand