Ovulation induction is the stimulation of ovulation using medication. This medication works by encouraging eggs to develop in the ovaries, ready to be released. By combining this treatment with carefully planned intercourse or artificial insemination, it can greatly increase your chances of a successful conception.
Who is best suited to ovulation induction treatment?
Ovulation induction is often the preferred fertility treatment for women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), but it is also suitable for women who are not ovulating for a variety of other reasons. However, it is essential that women opting for ovulation induction have not begun the menopause.
Medications often used in ovulation induction include:
Clomiphene Citrate (Clomid)
Clomiphene Citrate is an oral medication, most commonly used if a woman has irregular or very long menstrual cycles. It works by triggering the brain’s pituitary gland to secrete an increased amount of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and LH (luteinizing hormone). This action stimulates the growth of the ovarian follicles, which initiates ovulation.
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
Hormone injections of FSH help the ovaries to produce eggs. This medication is usually used in combination with another hormone (hCG) for the growth and release of a mature egg (ovulation).
Fertility drugs are not our immediate response to lack of ovulation. Instead our preferred starting point is a blood test, along with an ultrasound scan to check your hormone levels and to see whether there is a follicle maturing. We would then use these results to determine your best next steps. This may include some changes in your lifestyle to encourage natural ovulation. However, if we believe your best course of treatment is to use medication, the choice of drug will be made by our experts after careful assessment.
During ovulation induction treatment with us, you will have regular ultrasound scans and blood tests to ensure that the treatment is resulting in eggs developing and that you are ovulating correctly.
Please speak to one of our fertility experts today, if you feel that ovulation induction treatment could be right for you.
