Everything you need to know about ovulation induction
Ovulation induction is a medical procedure designed to assist individuals in becoming pregnant by stimulating the ovaries to release eggs. It’s a common approach for those facing infertility issues or irregular menstrual cycles.
What is meant by ovulation?
Ovulation is a process that occurs every month in women in which a mature egg is released from the ovary into the fallopian tube. It generally occurs about thirteen to fifteen days before the start of the next menstrual period.
When ovulation does not occur or is absent (anovulation) in a woman, it can be the reason for infertility. Ovulation induction (OI) is used to help alleviate infertility and improve ovulation patterns in women.
Ovulation Induction (OI) Treatment
Ovulation induction treatment is one of the fertility treatments in which hormonal therapy is provided to resume ovulation in women of reproductive age. It is a form of assisted reproductive technology (ART), which involves hormonal pills to stimulate the release of one or more eggs from the ovary. In some cases, OI is performed with intrauterine insemination to help achieve pregnancy.
Who needs ovulation induction?
Ovulation induction is a common treatment for women dealing with infertility. Some of the common reasons for which OI is required include the following:
- Women dealing with unexplained infertility
- Having irregular menstrual cycles
- Suffering from infrequent ovulation
- Couples with no-male factor infertility
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
What are the medications used for ovulation induction?
Various hormonal medications are prescribed for the process of ovulation induction. Let’s discuss some of the fertility drugs that are used for ovulation induction.
- Clomiphene citrate
It is an oral medication that blocks the oestrogen receptors, makes your body believe that estrogen levels are low, and promotes the production of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). These hormones encourage the production of eggs in the ovaries.
- Gonadotropins
Gonadotropins include two injectable hormones luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) that stimulate the growth of eggs and also regulate their release during the ovulation cycle.
- Aromataseinhibitors
This type of medication is mostly recommended for people who have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Advantages of ovulation induction
The procedure offers several benefits:
- Increased chances of a successful pregnancy
- Enhance the effectiveness of other fertility treatments, such as IUI and IVF.
- Regulates menstrual cycles
- Reduces risk of ovarian cyst
Ovulation Induction: A Step-by-Step Process
Ovulation induction is a safe and simple procedure that includes a few steps. This includes oral medications and hormonal injections that stimulate the ovulation process in women who are going through anovulation and also is one of the effective tools used to address fertility issues.
Step 1: Initial consultation
The very first stage of OI includes an initial consultation in which your fertility specialist will thoroughly evaluate your lifestyle factors and medical history. Along with that they also prescribe you several tests and discuss your fertility treatment plan.
Step 2: Medication
After consulting your fertility specialist your treatment will start at the beginning of the menstrual cycle. In this step, you will be stimulated with medications that encourage the growth of follicles that contain the eggs.
Step 3: Monitoring
Under this OI treatment step, you will be monitored through ultrasounds and blood tests to monitor the response of the ovaries and also control the development of follicles, their amount and size.
Step 4: Timed sexual intercourse or insemination
It is also known as scheduled sexual intercourse or directed intercourse. This step includes medications in some cases to stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs. In this, depending upon the specific situation you will start a timed sexual intercourse or intrauterine insemination (IU).
(Also Read: Understanding IVF : A Comprehensive Guide by Dr. Hina Ali (drhinaaliivf.com))
CONCLUSION
Ovulation induction is a medical treatment which includes hormonal medications to improve ovulation patterns and to increase the number of eggs released every month by women. It is a common approach for those facing infertility issues or irregular menstrual cycles. This procedure helps couples increase their chance of conceiving.
You can consult your fertility specialist and discuss your options and fertility goals with them.