The Critical Ovulation Stimulation Phase
Fertility treatments help countless women and couples start or build a family by helping facilitate conception. A variety of options exist, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI), and even monitored ovulation cycles. In all of these scenarios, ovulation is often boosted through hormone stimulation medications. Along with performing blood or urine tests to accurately track hormone levels, fertility specialists will also provide prescriptions to help improve egg production. Below are some of the reasons ovarian stimulation might be recommended as part of a fertility treatment.
Improving output
One of the most common reasons ovarian stimulation hormones are prescribed is to boost output. Typically, when a woman ovulates, the ovaries tend to release only one or possibly two eggs each month. For most fertility treatments, maximizing ovarian production is the goal. Especially for egg harvesting, whether for freezing or an active IVF cycle, specialists want to optimize the chances of conception. To do so, medications are given that are designed to mature multiple ovarian follicles rather than the standard one or two. As a result, multiple eggs are released during the ovulation window. For IVF, during egg retrieval, all of the eggs may be fertilized simultaneously, with most saved and frozen for future use while 1-2 embryos are transferred to the uterus in hopes of implantation. Even in IUI, a woman might undergo ovulation stimulation to boost conception odds when semen is inserted directly into the uterus.
Delicate hormone balance
Boosting ovulation isn’t a process that happens by chance. In most cases, a series of medications might be prescribed over the course of a fertility treatment cycle to optimize egg production. For example, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is often introduced via injections to help boost follicular maturation. Meanwhile, FSH also works to limit estrogen production as a way of overriding standard functions managed by the brain to increase ovarian output. Additionally, a trigger shot injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is often administered right before ovulation to help boost luteinizing hormone (LH) which signals the body to ovulate.
For natural conception
Although most people associate hormone stimulation with in-office fertility treatments, women and couples who want to conceive naturally can also be prescribed a hormone supplementation program. Similar to patients having IVF or IUI, for natural conception, oral or injectable hormones may still be given to expand ovarian output from just 1 to as many as 3 follicles maturing during ovulation. These women may still be given a trigger shot to promote egg release. The only difference is that the couple will still engage in intercourse during the ovulation window instead of scheduling a fertility treatment.
Making the right choice
Ultimately, the right medication regimen will depend on a wide variety of factors. Specifically, a fertility specialist will determine, based on the treatment method used, which prescriptions are most likely to be effective. Likewise, a woman’s specific medical or pregnancy history will also influence what is most likely to be recommended. Consider speaking with a physician to determine the right course of action to achieve a positive pregnancy test result.
