INVOcell vs. IVF: What You Need to Know

Building a family can be one of the most exciting and challenging times in one’s life. From planning to pregnancy to birth, every stage of parenthood offers its own rewards and options. For couples or singles who face fertility challenges, building a family can often feel daunting. With advances in fertility medicine, along with the help of an experienced fertility doctor, the path to building families has become even more accessible and attainable. 

IVF vs. INVOcell

One of the most common fertility treatments today is in vitro fertilization (IVF). This form of fertility treatment involves fertilizing eggs with sperm outside of the body in an embryology lab. After eggs are retrieved, an experienced embryologist will inseminate the eggs with sperm and later place them in an incubator to develop into embryos. Embryos can then be transferred into the uterus (fresh embryo transfer) or frozen for an embryo transfer in a future month (frozen embryo transfer).

An alternative fertility treatment to IVF is INVOcell. This form of advanced fertility treatment involves placing the egg and sperm directly into an INVOcell device which is then placed in the vagina of the female partner for fertilization and incubation. This is in direct comparison to traditional IVF, where the egg and sperm are combined in a dish and then placed into an incubator in the lab. Instead of fertilization happening in the lab, fertilization of the egg and sperm happens in your own body.

Similar to IVF, the goal of INVOcell fertility treatment is for the fertilized eggs to progress into embryos. After several days, the INVOcell device is removed from the female’s body, and an embryologist will identify any embryos that have developed. At this point, an embryo can be transferred fresh into the uterus via an embryo transfer. If there are any additional embryos, they can be frozen for future use.  

Getting started with IVF or INVOcell

Achieving a pregnancy with IVF or INVOcell starts with ovarian stimulation. Your fertility doctor will prescribe a series of medications, as part of an ovarian stimulation protocol, that will help stimulate eggs to grow. After several monitoring appointments, your physician will determine when it is time to administer your trigger shot, which finalizes the ovarian stimulation process and prepares your ovaries for the egg retrieval procedure. 

Egg retrieval procedure and recovery time

Approximately 35-37 hours after the trigger shot, you will undergo an egg retrieval procedure under light sedation. During the procedure, your eggs will be removed transvaginally using the same style ultrasound probe that was used during your monitoring visits. 

The procedure takes approximately 20-30 minutes, and there are no incisions or stitches. Most women leave the clinic to go home after spending one hour in the recovery room, and generally resume normal activity one day later, managing any cramps or discomfort with over-the-counter pain medications. 

Fertilization and incubation: IVF vs. INVOcell process

At this stage, for patients undergoing IVF treatment, an embryologist will fertilize each egg with sperm in the lab. This will be done either via conventional insemination or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The fertilized eggs will then be placed in an incubator in the lab. 

For patients undergoing an INVOcell procedure, an embryologist will place the eggs and sperm together directly into the INVOcell device. Next, the INVOcell device will be placed into the woman’s vagina, similar to the placement of a diaphragm or diva cup. Fertilization and incubation will then take place in the device, in the woman’s body. 

After a five-day incubation period, the device is removed, and an embryologist will identify any embryos that have developed. An embryo can then be transferred directly back into the woman’s uterus via a traditional embryo transfer procedure. If additional embryos are identified, they can be frozen for future use. In some cases, no embryos are identified, and thus, no embryos are available to transfer. 

Is INVOcell right for you? 

Determining whether you are a candidate for INVOcell begins with a visit to one of our experienced fertility doctors, Dr. Copland, Dr. Peavey, Dr. Hynes, or Dr. Friedlander.  

Some patients arrive at INVOcell after they have tried ovulation induction or intrauterine insemination without success. Other patients choose INVOcell because they are looking more cost-effective and less involved form of advanced fertility treatment. 

No matter how you arrive at INVOcell, your fertility doctor will be able to review your history and determine if INVOcell is an appropriate treatment option for you. 

Who is a good candidate for INVOcell? 

The best candidates for INVOcell are typically younger patients with good ovarian reserve who are expected to produce a reasonable number of eggs and have a strong chance of creating healthy embryos without the need for complex laboratory interventions. 

It may be especially appealing for individuals or couples with unexplained infertility, mild ovulatory disorders, tubal factor infertility, or same-sex female couples pursuing family building. The patient must also be a candidate for a fresh embryo transfer, which requires that hormone levels are in certain ranges on the day of trigger, prior to egg retrieval.

Patients with diminished ovarian reserve, advanced maternal age, significant male factor infertility, or those who need genetic testing of embryos often benefit more from traditional IVF, where embryologists have greater control over fertilization, embryo development, and embryo selection. 

Ultimately, the best candidate for INVOcell is someone whose fertility profile suggests a strong chance of success with a simplified IVF approach, while also valuing cost-conscious care and a less laboratory-intensive treatment pathway.

If you are a candidate for INVOcell, your fertility doctor will develop a fertility treatment plan that honors your values and family goals. 

What are the success rates of INVOcell?

INVOcell success rates can be very encouraging, particularly for younger patients with good ovarian reserve and no major complicating fertility factors. In the largest published multicenter U.S. study evaluating 526 INVOcell cycles in 463 patients, cumulative live birth rates or ongoing pregnancy rates ranged from 29% to 53% per cycle start and 40% to 61% per embryo transfer, depending on the center and patient population. 

Implantation rates were also strong, ranging from 38.8% to 52.9%, while 78% of cycles progressed to embryo transfer. The percentage of cycles that had additional embryos to freeze ranged from 23% to 70%, meaning that for the vast majority of patients, their INVOcell cycle represented a “1 chance attempt” at pregnancy. 

In that same study, most patients were under age 38 with adequate ovarian reserve, highlighting the importance of careful patient selection.

What are the disadvantages of INVOcell?

INVOcell can be an excellent option for selected patients, but it does have several disadvantages compared with traditional IVF. The biggest limitation is lower overall efficiency and fewer embryos created per cycle, largely because INVOcell has less laboratory control during fertilization and embryo development. 

Another disadvantage is that embryologists have less ability to closely monitor embryo development while embryos are cultured in the vaginal device rather than in a lab incubator. This can limit real-time assessment of fertilization timing, embryo grading, and some advanced laboratory strategies such as ICSI or preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). 

INVOcell may also be less ideal for patients with diminished ovarian reserve, advanced maternal age, severe male factor infertility, or those needing PGT-A/PGT-M, where standard IVF offers more flexibility and control. 

Lastly, some patients find the device uncomfortable to wear for several days and find it challenging to avoid intercourse, swimming, hot tubs, and certain activities during that time.

Let’s chart your fertility journey together

Ultimately, INVOcell can be a valuable fertility treatment option for the right patient, offering a more affordable and less laboratory-intensive alternative to traditional IVF treatment. While it may not provide the same level of embryo monitoring, flexibility, or cumulative success rates as traditional IVF, it can deliver excellent outcomes in carefully selected younger patients with favorable fertility profiles. 

The best way to determine whether INVOcell is the right fit is through an individualized consultation with a fertility specialist who can review age, ovarian reserve, sperm parameters, family-building goals, and budget to help choose the treatment path with the highest likelihood of success.

Schedule a visit with one of our experienced fertility doctors today to learn more about IVF and INVOcell and determine which fertility treatment is right for you. 

FAQs about INVOcell

How much does INVOcell cost? 

The cost of an INVOcell cycle can differ by clinic and medication protocol, but on average ranges between $8,000 and $12,000, inclusive of medications. Compared with traditional IVF costs, which typically range from $12,500 to $20,000, including medications, an INVOcell cycle offers substantial cost savings. 

Can you pick the gender with INVOcell? 

No. Because preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) cannot be performed with an INVOcell cycle, there is no way to determine if the embryo being transferred is male (46XY) or female (46XX).

Can you have twins with INVOcell? 

Yes, twins are possible with INVOcell. A twin pregnancy in an INVOcell cycle may be the result of a double embryo transfer, meaning two separate embryos were transferred and both embryos successfully implanted, resulting in a dizygotic (non-identical) twin pregnancy. 

Or, twins may be the result of embryo splitting, meaning a single embryo was transferred, but that embryo split into monozygotic (identical) twins. 

What is the age limit for INVOcell? 

There is no predefined age limit for INVOcell, but the best candidates for INVOcell are generally younger (<35-38y) as these patients are expected to have higher egg quality and thus, a higher chance of creating a genetically normal, or euploid, embryo. 

Every fertility clinic has its own internal protocols, so it’s important to reach out to your specific fertility clinic and ask for age limits by treatment type.