Everything you need to know about Ovulation Induction

 Ovulatory issues are one of the major reasons for infertility in women. Extended length of the menstrual cycle, irregular menstruation, and sharp pelvic pain are some of the characteristic features of ovulation problems. 

Ovulation is a phase of a woman’s menstrual cycle where the eggs are released from the ovaries into the fallopian tubules. This phase opens the fertilization window where the released egg from the ovaries waits for sperm to fertilize to begin a successful pregnancy. During a normal menstrual cycle, one egg is released from the ovaries. However, in women with irregular ovulation, this production of the egg is curbed leading to irregular ovulation. 

Ovulation Induction (OI) is a fertility induction procedure that involves fertility medications to treat such ovulatory issues. Hormones induce the production of one or more good quality eggs/ovum during the menstrual cycle and try to normalize the ovulation process. It is a very important procedure as production of quality ovum increases the quality of embryos and statistics show that 95% of the embryo quality is because of the female ovum. 

The procedure of Ovulation Induction

Ovulation induction is the first step of intrauterine Insemination (IUI) or the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) procedure. Initially, a complete examination of the ovaries is performed through diagnostic tools such as:

• Hormonal assay

• Ultrasound 

• Pituitary and thyroid hormone testing

• Hysterosalpingography

• Ovarian reserve testing

After a thorough examination, The ovulation induction cycle begins on the first day of menstruation. Hormonal medications are administered from day 2 of menstruation. The medications depend on the hormones that regulate pituitary, ovarian, and hypothalamus functioning. 

• Estrogen inhibitors such as Clomiphene citrate are administered in cases where the hypothalamic functioning is normal. Clomiphene citrate is mainly used when ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination are combined to increase the production of quality mature eggs. These estrogen inhibitors induce follicular development by stimulating the release of gonadotropins.

• Additional injectable gonadotropins like Follicular Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) are administered if there is hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction.

• The monitoring of this entire procedure is done via regular blood tests and ultrasound that will help modify the dosage of hormones accordingly.

• 36 hours before ovulation or when the follicles are mature enough, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) shots are given to stimulate the release of mature eggs.

• It is at this stage where the eggs are either retrieved with a small surgical procedure for IVF. The eggs can also be allowed to release and the sperms can be either injected artificially or naturally to fertilize.

• Some of the other ovulation induction medications used during OI procedure are human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) which is a combination of FSH, LH, and Leuprolide that are known to improve the quantity and quality of eggs while preparing the uterine lining for embryo transfer.

Benefits of Ovulation Induction:

• Ovulation therapy is one of the first lines of fertility treatments considered in women with irregular ovulation. 

• IVF ovulation induction helps retrieve viable eggs at the right time when the eggs are mature and about to get released from the follicle. This maximizes the chances of a successful IVF.

• If the eggs are retrieved for IVF, the eggs and the embryos formed can be frozen and stored for later use.

• OI is a non-invasive procedure and has very few side effects. These side-effects such as nausea, headache, mood swings, bloating, inflammation, and pain in the pelvic area are due to hormonal changes that subside within a few days.

OI is known to improve pregnancy rates by inducing the production of a good amount of quality eggs. IVF Junction through its network of fertility centres in Delhi NCR, Gurgaon connects you to experienced specialists who will take you through a range of fertility enhancement procedures according to your condition. Our fertility experts provide the best ovulation therapy that will help obtain quality eggs for a successful conception.