Ovulation Induction
Ovulation Induction Fertility Treatment
Ovulation Induction (OI) uses fertility medications to cause or regulate ovulation, or increase the number of eggs produced during a cycle. Because these powerful hormones produce significant changes in your system, their effects are tracked by blood tests and ultrasound. These same tests are used to determine a baseline - indicating your natural hormone levels - and your medication start date. For this reason, Ovulation Induction cycles also may be called "monitored" cycles.
These Ovulation Induction medications include clomiphene citrate. This oral drug promotes growth of the fluid-filled sacks (follicles) containing the eggs. If you do not ovulate, or you ovulate and do not become pregnant after clomiphene therapy, other medications may be prescribed either alone or in combination. These drugs, called gonadotropins, are taken by injection under the skin. They replace natural follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and, if they are successful, the ovaries produce multiple follicles and high quality, mature eggs.
Your hormone levels and follicular development are tracked throughout a stimulation cycle. If required, your medication protocol (the type and dose) may be altered for optimum results. When the follicles are mature, usually between 16 and 20 millimetres in diameter depending on your stimulation medication, you will take an intramuscular injection of hCG, in preparation for intercourse or intrauterine insemination (IUI).
Ovulation Induction Fertility Treatments:
A variety of fertility medications are available for Ovulation Induction and your physician will choose the drug or combination of stimulation drugs that are best in each case. They include:
- Clomiphene Citrate (Clomid or Seraphine)- Prescribed to women with infrequent periods and long ovulation cycles, it blocks the effects of estrogens and causes the body to produce more follicle stimulating hormone.
- Human Menopausal Gonadotropin- Stimulates the development of multiple follicles and eggs during an ovulation cycle,hMG is derived from the urine of post-menopausal women.
- Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)- Stimulates development of the fluid-filled sacks containing the eggs, this drug is available in a natural form, derived from the urine of postmenopausal women, or as a "recombinant" or manufactured drug.
- Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)- Produced by the placenta during pregnancy and extracted from the urine of pregnant women, hCG triggers ovulation, releasing the eggs.
