Ovulation Induction

What is induction of ovulation?

Ovulation induction involves the use of medication to stimulate development of one or more mature follicles (where eggs develop) in the ovaries of women who have anovulation and infertility. These women do not regularly develop mature follicles without help from medication.

Some of the women with anovulation have a condition known as PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome. These women usually have irregular menstrual cycles, increased body hair, and infertility. Ovulation induction is somewhat different from controlled ovarian hyperstimulation which involves use of some of the same medications to stimulate development of multiple mature follicles and eggs in order to increase pregnancy rates with various infertility treatments. Success rates for induction of ovulation vary considerably and depend on the age of the woman, the type of medication used, whether there are other infertility factors present in the couple, etc..

There are four basic types of medication that are used to induce ovulation. Treatment with these drugs has the potential to result in pregnancy if the woman has good quality eggs remaining in her ovaries, and if other causes of infertility are not present.

For women with ovarian failure or extremely very poor quality eggs there is not currently any drug available to allow a reasonable chance of conception with any type of ovarian stimulation. Egg donation is the only realistic option for getting pregnant with premature ovarian failure.

The four major types of drug therapy for ovulation problems include Clomid (Serophene, clomiphene citrate), injectable gonadotropins, GnRH pump, and bromocriptine.

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