Ovulation Induction Treatments

When is ovulation induction necessary?

Approximately 20 % - 25 % of the patients who consult for sterility present alterations in ovulation such as in delayed and/or infrequent or complete absence of ovulation. Therefore, these patients present irregular, even inexistent, menstruation. In these cases ovulation induction treatments are indicated if the remaining explorations of the male (seminogram) and the woman (echography and/or hysterosalpingography) are confirmed to be normal.

In sterile women who ovulate regularly but who must undergo artificial insemination, mild ovulation stimulant treatments are also usually used to increase the possibilities of pregnancy.

What is the treatment like?

Ovulation induction treatment requires the administration of hormone preparations which are applied subcutaneously with schedules which depend on the type of anovulation. These treatments require periodic echographic and analytical controls throughout the ovulatory cycle.

Are there different types of treatment?

There are two types of hormone treatments:

1.Patients with type I anovulation: two types of hormone prepartations are subcutaneously administered.

2.Patients with type II anovulation: Most of the cases correspond to patients with a polycystic ovary syndrome. In these cases oral clomiphene and subcutaneous FSH are used. The response is usually less affected than in type I patients.

How long does this treatment last?

It is recommended that ovulation induction be repeated during a period ranging from 4 to 6 months and if pregnancy is not achieved, in vitro or laparoscopic fertilisation techniques are indicated.

What are the possibilities of achieving pregnancy?

The possibilities of achieving a pregnancy range from 15 % to 20 % in most cases.