Ovulation Induction drugs, procedure, treatment and success rates

Ovulation Induction

MotherToBe offers Ovulation Induction (OI) fertility treatments. Ovulation Induction procedure involves the use of medications to stimulate growth of follicle and bring about ovulation.

Women with PCOS have hormonal disturbances which lead to problems with egg growth and release termed medically as anovulation. In women with regular periods, every month an egg grows and is released and hence the chance of conception is around 20% in a cycle. However, in women with PCOS, as egg growth and release does not happen or happens very irregularly, it affects the chance of conceiving naturally. However, these simple medications which can be taken to facilitate egg growth and release under the supervision of fertility specialist helps these women achieve a pregnancy.

OI process involves the following steps

Step 1

Stimulation

Ovulation induction medications comprise of oral medications such as clomiphene citrate, letrozole and gonadotropins which are in injectable form. These medications increase the hormone levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and promote the enlargement of the follicles (fluid-filled sacs) carrying the eggs.

Step 2

Monitoring

Ultrasound is used to monitor the effect of the hormonal medication given, to bring about the growth of the follicle. This process is known as Follicular Monitoring.

Step 3

Egg Release (Ovulation)

When we find the follicles developing and they are ready which is usually when they are between 18 and 20 millimetres in diameter, depending on your medication, hCG injection is given to facilitate ovulation.

The number of ovulation induction cycles depends on the response of the patient.

How does ovulation induction therapy works?

Initially, the patient is administered medications in order to enhance the development of mature eggs by the ovary. This is monitored through ultrasound regularly.
The choice of medications for OI is dictated by the hypothalamic-pituitary gland – ovarian function. With adequate hypothalamic function, an oral regimen of Clomiphene citrate which exhibits estrogen agonist and antagonist activity is often utilized the first line. Letrozole is another common medication used for ovulation induction.
Clomiphene citrate inhibits estrogen binding in the hypothalamus to stimulate the release of GnRH and pituitary gonadotropins and induce ovarian follicular development.
If hypothalamic or pituitary dysfunction is detected or if oral regimens are not successful, injectable gonadotropins are administered.
The most common gonadotropin regimens use FSH administered alone or in combination with LH. Once the follicles have reached the appropriate size to contain a mature egg, an injection is given in order to trigger ovulation.
Timed intercourse or artificial insemination is the next course of action.

Risks and side effects

Risk for multiple births
Hyper-stimulation
Nausea
Headache

Success rate in ovulation induction

The success rates of Ovulation Induction are about 20% to 25% for each cycle (every month they try) in the case of healthy and fertile couples. In case the patient has ovulatory disorders then the ovulation induction success rates will reduce accordingly.

Watch Dr. Vyjayanthi explain about Ovulation Induction