Did you know that 2/3rd of fertility patients report needle-anxiety? Ovarian stimulation for egg freezing or IVF requires daily self-injection anywhere from two to four times per day depending on the medication protocol. This is usually viewed as a means to an end with the hope of coming away from the process with a baby in your arms. But, we know too well that fertility treatment takes a huge emotional and physical toll, often leading to treatment drop-out or delays, and the needles and self-injection only compound the stress and anxiety of the process.

Enter Needle-Free IVF, an innovative approach spearheaded by Dr. Mandelbaum of HRC Fertility. Dr. Mandelbaum, a pioneer in reproductive medicine, was inspired to develop Needle-Free IVF after watching so many patients struggle with the needle injections involved in the IVF process. As an OB/GYN resident, she observed how insulin pumps changed the lives of patients with type I diabetes, prompting her to explore a similar approach for fertility treatments.

The best part? Dr. Mandelbaum took an old-school approach to testing a scientific hypothesis. She tested her Needle-Free method on herself while personally undergoing IVF, ensuring its safety and efficacy before starting a trial to confirm its safety in fertility patients. Her study was completed in 2023, and all patients had an excellent outcome in their IVF or egg freezing cycle and reported very high satisfaction with Needle-Free IVF. Patients who had done IVF previously with needle injections all stated that they preferred the Needle-Free approach.

Because of this overwhelmingly positive response to Needle-Free IVF, Dr. Mandelbaum is actively expanding this program in her own practice.

“When we surveyed patients, we found a high level of needle-related anxiety significantly delaying IVF cycles,” Dr. Mandelbaum explains. “If we can alleviate this anxiety, we can improve patients’ experience of the IVF process, hopefully translating to improved success during treatment.”
Needle-Free IVF introduces a subcutaneous catheter system, akin to a continuous glucose monitor, to deliver medications without traditional needle injections. The FDA-approved Neria Guard, typically used for other medical purposes, has been adapted off-label for IVF, marking a pioneering advancement in fertility care.
Dr. Mandelbaum is excited to be offering Needle-Free IVF at both our Beverly Hills and West LA Location. She is the only physician offering this service and is so excited to see the positive impact it will have on many patient’s fertility journeys. You can book your consultation with Dr. Rachel Mandelbaum here. And for a limited time, HRC Fertility is running a special one-of-a-kind promotion celebrating the arrival of Dr. Mandelbaum to HRC’s family of physicians found here.

Every HRC Fertility location offers a range of promotions and packages. Special offerings include the center’s 35th-anniversary egg-freezing promotion, designed to make family planning more accessible. The Dream package provides a comprehensive option, as does the Dream Plus embryo banking package, focusing on a patient’s future family on their timeline.