Tracking Your Ovulation
For as commonplace as pregnancy and even menstrual cycles are, not every individual understands all the steps involved to either get a period every month or successfully conceive. In both scenarios, there’s one shared event that has to happen, ovulation. Ovulation is when one or sometimes both ovaries in a woman’s body releases an egg. Although a common occurrence, the event represents a delicate balance of hormones and timing. If the egg isn’t fertilized, then a period will follow roughly two weeks after release. If fertilization does occur, then pregnancy is the most likely outcome.
Ovulation and ART Treatments
A few scenarios exist where a woman may need to look to science for help with conceiving. Sometimes the issue is an underlying medical condition like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) which can cause irregular periods and make tracking ovulation difficult. Alternatively, people may turn to assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF) when infertility is to blame. In both scenarios, specialists may recommend using fertility drugs to help women and couples who can’t conceive naturally.
Regulating Cycles
Physicians may recommend fertility medications for a variety of reasons but one of the most common is to help regulate a woman’s menstrual cycle. Whether attempting to conceive naturally or with the help of a clinic, without accurately tracking ovulation, getting pregnant is incredibly difficult. Sometimes a doctor may simply recommend beginning birth control for a month or two before starting IVF to help regulate the menstrual cycle. With more accurate data such as total cycle length and a more precise ovulation window, specialists can create more targeted treatment plans and timelines.
Boosting Ovarian Output
Most people associate ovarian stimulation with IVF, but the process can also be used for women that are donating or freezing for later use and even couples attempting intrauterine insemination (IUI). In all scenarios, the process is somewhat similar as a fertility specialist will prescribe hormones that boost egg production. Then, during the ovulation window, IVF will require an egg retrieval which usually results in multiple specimens being collected as opposed to the one or two that are released naturally. For IUI, ovulation stimulation does not include collecting the resulting eggs.
Stimulating ovulation
Especially for women undergoing IVF, the entire cycle is timed precisely to maximize success rates. As a result, even when ovulation begins is controlled rather than letting nature guide the process. Physicians may prescribe hormones to trigger ovulation to plan egg retrieval and subsequently the in lab fertilization. IVF isn’t the only ART treatment that may use this method. IUI can also incorporate ovulation stimulation to manage timing when the sperm is inserted directly into the uterus.
An essential part of the process
Whether for IVF, IUI, or preserving fertility for egg harvesting, fertility medications are essential for ovulation and pregnancy. Key benefits include regulating menstrual cycles, boosting egg production, and even triggering ovulation. For more detailed information on how fertility drugs work and any potential side effects, consider speaking with a fertility specialist.
