Ovulation induction refers to the stimulation of egg recruitment in women who are anovulatory (do not ovulate), or who ovulate infrequently or irregularly, through the use of fertility drugs administered at our Plano infertility practice near Frisco. A significant percentage of women with infertility issues have ovulation dysfunction, which in turn reflects irregular or absent ovulation. If a woman goes for three months without having a menstrual cycle, she may have gone three months without ovulating or may not ovulate altogether. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) fall into this category.
The management approach of these women is different from that taken with women who wish to conceive and already have predictable, ovulatory cycles. In an ovulatory woman, the recruitment of multiple eggs through the use of fertility drugs is called gonadotropin superovulation or controlled ovarian hyperstimulation as opposed to ovulation induction.
Clomiphene citrate is the most common of the fertility drugs given to women at our Plano infertility practice near Frisco for ovulation induction. It has been in use as a fertility medication for over four decades. Traditionally, clomiphene citrate is given over five consecutive days starting between days three to five of a menstrual cycle. If a woman does not respond by making an egg with clomiphene citrate treatment, the dose may be increased. Once a dose has been established that will induce egg recruitment, there is no advantage, but potential disadvantages, to increasing the dose in a subsequent month.
If women are ovulatory to begin with, or if clomiphene citrate is unsuccessful, then gonadotropin therapy is customarily initiated.
This group of injectable fertility drugs has been a mainstay of infertility treatment for decades. Pergonal®, developed by Serono, was the first fertility medication of this class to be developed and brought to market. This medication is derived from the processed urine of postmenopausal women and contains high concentrations of the active ingredients FSH and LH. When administered over several days, FSH and LH can induce an ovary to superovulate and make multiple eggs. Over the years, there has been a refinement in the development of new gonadotropins whereby more highly purified, genetically engineered products have been developed and brought to the market. Gonal-F®, manufactured by Serono, and Follistim®, manufactured by Organon, represent the newest generation of gonadotropins, which are highly refined, more potent, produce more consistent results, and are easier to administer than previously developed gonadotrophin medications.
This infertility treatment administered at Dallas IVF near Frisco is used to induce ovulation. Although sperm can live a few days after being ejaculated into the vagina, eggs begin to die within twelve hours after ovulation. By timing the ovulation (release of eggs) in a clomiphene citrate or gonadotropin stimulated cycle with intrauterine insemination (IUI) or home intercourse, combined with the use of human chorionic gonadotropin, chances of conceiving are enhanced.
Women who are administered clomiphene citrate or gonadotropin therapy are monitored throughout their treatments. Interval transvaginal sonograms are performed at Dallas IVF to determine a woman’s response to treatment with fertility drugs, as well as to determine adjustments to dosing that may increase a couple’s chance of conceiving. During sonograms, Dr. Barnett and Dr. Ku are also able to count the number of eggs being produced by the ovaries. Sonographic measurements are also completed to best time when human chorionic gonadotropins (hCG) should be administered to coordinate ovulation with either intrauterine insemination (IUI) or intercourse.
Contact Dallas IVF today for more information about ovulation induction through the use of fertility drugs at our practice in Plano. By combining these medications with other infertility treatments at Dallas IVF near Frisco, Dr. Barnett and Dr. Ku are able to achieve exceptional success rates.
Brian D. Barnett, MD
Lowell T. Ku, MD
Presbyterian Hospital of Plano
MOB 3, Suite 334
6124 West Parker Road
Plano, Texas 75093
Phone: (972) 981-8700
Fax: (972) 981-8708
MAP
Contact Dallas IVF today for more information about the use of fertility medications to treat infertility.