Infertility, IVF, And You
For the thousands of people who struggle to conceive every year, assisted reproductive technology (ART) has been a shining light. ART is a series of techniques that improves pregnancy by handling sperm or eggs. At the top stands in vitro fertilization (IVF), a process that creates embryos using sperm and eggs. For IVF to work effectively, the patient will need specific fertility medications. These medications are essential to gathering sufficient eggs for the different stages of IVF. Each hormone medicine works differently but comes together to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy.
Your fertility medication stack
IVF patients are required to take multiple hormone medications at specific stages of the treatment. This therapy is mainly in injectable form. The patient must administer the hormone at specific times each day for a set period. Some are in oral form, which must also be used at set periods. IVF patients start with ovarian stimulation medications, then ovulation suppressors. Additional hormone medications include a trigger shot, which helps with maturing eggs at the right moment. Finally, other oral or injectable hormones help regulate the menstrual cycle or prepare the uterus for implantation. The brand, doses, and formulations vary by individual, determined by the fertility team and pharmacists.
How these drugs stimulate ovulation
The first step of IVF may involve oral hormone medication for several days to regulate the menstrual cycle. The fertility team wants to create the best possible conditions to begin the first step, which is ovarian stimulation. Hormones like follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) determine follicle production in the ovaries. An injectable form of these gonadotropins is prescribed for 8–14 days to stimulate the ovaries. The fertility medication is a higher dose of what the body naturally produces, which should trigger multiple ovaries to develop at the same time.
Managing follicle development
Consistent use of injectable hormones will help the incubation of these follicles. The fertility team will monitor progress with blood tests and ultrasound scans. Gonadotropin-releasing hormones are the hormones that dictate the natural release of FSH and LH. GnRH agonists may be administered to suppress this function. This injectable hormone sends signals to the brain to limit GnRH release, thereby preventing premature ovulation. The goal is to have control over when the eggs develop and release. GnRH agonists help with the perfect timing of egg retrieval.
Getting trigger happy
The body releases a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) during the final stages of ovulation and pregnancy. When the fertility team determines the follicles are ready, a similar form of hCG is administered, called a trigger shot. This hCG triggers the final maturation and release of eggs from the follicles in the ovaries. At the opportune moment, the fertility team will surgically extract the follicles from the ovaries. Once enough follicles are retrieved, the fertility team, equipped with an embryologist, will use a sperm sample to create multiple mature embryos. The best embryos are then used for implantation and potential pregnancy.
Hormones involved during embryo transfer
Fertility medications are finally used in the closing stages of IVF, namely embryo transfer. The patient receives oral, vaginal, or injectable progesterone supplements. These hormones help with an appropriate uterine lining to receive the embryo. After several days of this medication, the fertility team will transfer a single embryo or multiple embryos. The patient will then be monitored for pregnancy in the coming 14-21 days. If a blood test confirms a positive pregnancy, an ultrasound is performed to monitor embryo development.
How successful are fertility medications and IVF?
Fertility medications work by providing the adequate hormones needed in each stage. These hormones accelerate a natural process, allowing the fertility team to retrieve multiple eggs at once. Fertility medication also helps create the optimal conditions for pregnancy. With lifestyle changes, age, and other factors, hormones are difficult to manage. Fertility drugs accelerate the natural process, creating multiple embryos in the process. IVF has a high success rate, suggested by a 40% average. However, multiple cycles are often required. The data allows the fertility team to adjust hormone medication in subsequent cycles, making treatment flexible.
IVF can be a difference-maker
The science behind IVF seeks to use natural or synthetic hormones to control the reproductive process. Through administering hormones like FSH and LH, controlled ovulation is possible. Other hormone medicines allow for controlled ovulation cycles and an optimal environment for pregnancy. While hormone medications are effective, there are side effects. The medical team will work with the patient to minimize these symptoms. IVF is an excellent option for severe forms of infertility or challenges getting pregnant naturally. With the right combination of medications, this scientific marvel can help produce the miracle of parenthood.
