Ovulation induction
Ovulation disorders are one of the most frequent causes of infertility and are responsible for almost half of the reproductive disorders that occur in women.
To treat this problem, at Inser, we provide ovulation induction treatment, which makes the couple more likely to achieve a pregnancy in the short term by administering drugs that help the ovary to ovulate.
What does ovulation induction consist of?
Ovulation induction is a treatment designed to stimulate the ovary in women who have difficulties with it and for them to expel the egg to be fertilized later. The stimulation of the ovaries is carried out using medications whose action is similar to that of certain hormones produced by women. The treating physician defines the choice of medicines and doses according to the needs and characteristics of each woman. The most frequently used are:
clomiphene citrate, letrozole, and gonadotropins. The ovarian stimulation process is monitored by vaginal ultrasounds that report the number and size of the developing follicles, sometimes complemented with blood hormone measurements that may include estradiol, progesterone, and the luteinizing hormone, among others. Once the adequate development of the follicles is achieved, other medications are administered to reach the final maturation of the ovules and schedule the most appropriate moment to guide sexual intercourse, artificial insemination, or egg retrieval for fertility treatment.
For whom is ovulation induction treatment designed?
This treatment is designed for women who have:
- Absence of ovulation (anovulation)
- Ovulatory dysfunction disorders
- Other causes, such as unexplained infertility or subfertility through other causes
The causes of anovulation may occur due to diseases such as:
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Thyroid gland function disorders
- Increase of the prolactin hormone (hyperprolactinemia)
- Altered adrenal gland function
- Obesity
How is ovulation induction monitoring done?
The doctor will talk with the patient to notify her when the menstrual period arrives. An ultrasound must be done in the first days of the cycle to assess the functions of the ovaries and uterus. At that time, treatment with medications to stimulate the ovary begins.
A few days later, a new ultrasound takes place to observe the growth of the follicles in the ovaries. It is often necessary to perform one or two more ultrasounds to identify the day the ovary will ovulate to indicate the days with the greatest likelihood of pregnancy through sexual intercourse.
What can be expected from this treatment?
Although the success of this treatment depends on the woman’s age and the causes that have determined the indication for treatment, a high percentage of women respond properly to the treatment.
