Induction of ovulation or superovulation
Some causes of infertility find solution with ovulatory induction technique or superovulation, combined with regular sexual intercourse or with artificial means.
What is ovulatory induction?
Ovulation induction is intended to generate healthy ovulation and, depending on the diagnosis, the maturation of several oocytes per month instead of one, which is normal. The release of more than one egg greatly increases a woman's chance of getting pregnant in each cycle.
Ovulation is pharmacologically induced and the ideal moment for depositing the spermatozoa in the vagina is determined, which can be done with natural sex or with intrauterine insemination (IUI) or artificial insemination.
How ovulation induction works
1. The first step in superovulation is to administer a series of drugs that stimulate the maturation of oocytes. In the normal reproductive cycle, two hormones - the follicle stimulating hormone or follitropin (FSH) and luteinizing hormone or lutropin (LH) - are needed to start and complete the maturation process. In superovulation women are given substances, either orally or in injections, which raise the levels of these hormones.
2. The development of oocytes in the ovarian follicles (fluid-filled spheres) is then monitored by vaginal ultrasound.
3. When the follicles acquire the right size and contain mature oocytes, an injection is given to the woman that causes ovulation and which marks the ideal time for fertilization and, if everything goes well, for pregnancy.
4. The two days following this moment, coinciding with ovulation, is when the couple must have sex or when intrauterine insemination is practiced, in which it is deposited, directly into the uterus through a catheter (flexible tube) , A sample of concentrated semen with highly mobile spermatozoa.
5. After five to seven days, with an ordinary blood test, it is checked that there are appropriate concentrations of hormones for the embryo to be implanted. If concentrations are low, hormone supplements are given.
The purpose of ovulatory induction is to increase the chance of ovulation at the right time and for the sperm to reach the ovum to fertilize it and engender a pregnancy. For many couples, the chance of a pregnancy with ovulatory treatment is around 20% in a single month.
Drugs used in ovulatory induction
Clomiphene citrate (Clomid® or Serophene®) are tablets (pills) that are taken orally and induce ovulation and maturation of oocytes. The effect of the medication on the ovaries is monitored with ultrasound.
Gonadotropins: medicines that are injected with a very fine needle. Gonadotropins in the United States are referred to by the following trademarks:
Gonal-F®
Follistim®
Bravelle®
Menopur®
All these drugs for superovulation are different forms of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), the most important hormone for the development of healthy oocytes, which makes the body itself in the pituitary. With the complementary contribution of FSH, it improves oocyte production.
Injectable drugs are more potent than those taken orally and tend to generate more eggs. Two or three ultrasounds and some blood tests are needed to control the oocyte maturation process and rule out risks.
Ovulation inducing medications (oocyte release)
Another substance that makes the organism is luteinizing hormone or lutropin (LH), which induces ovulation (detachment of the ovum from the mature follicle). Two other drugs are used to induce ovulation at the right time in the ovulatory cycle:
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), an ovulatory drug that induces ovulation and is marketed under the brands:
Pregnyl®
Novarel®
Ovidrel®, a synthetic gestagen hormone that induces ovulation. It occurs in pre-filled injections with a very small needle.
Drugs that favor implantation and the early stages of development
The body manufactures two hormones - estrogens and progesterone - that favor the implantation of the embryo and the incipient pregnancy. Some women do not make them in sufficient quantities and therefore an additional contribution is recommended to improve the prognosis of pregnancy. These medicines are:
Estrace®, a form of estrogen that is taken orally to promote implantation and pregnancy.
FemTrace®, another estrogen preparation that is also taken orally to promote implantation and pregnancy.
Prometrium®, a form of progesterone that is taken orally to promote implantation and pregnancy.
Endometrin®, another form of progesterone that is taken orally to promote implantation and pregnancy.
For more information on ovulatory medications and the induction of ovulation or superovulation, contact us.
What is ovulatory induction?
Ovulation induction is intended to generate healthy ovulation and, depending on the diagnosis, the maturation of several oocytes per month instead of one, which is normal. The release of more than one egg greatly increases a woman's chance of getting pregnant in each cycle.
Ovulation is pharmacologically induced and the ideal moment for depositing the spermatozoa in the vagina is determined, which can be done with natural sex or with intrauterine insemination (IUI) or artificial insemination.
How ovulation induction works
1. The first step in superovulation is to administer a series of drugs that stimulate the maturation of oocytes. In the normal reproductive cycle, two hormones - the follicle stimulating hormone or follitropin (FSH) and luteinizing hormone or lutropin (LH) - are needed to start and complete the maturation process. In superovulation women are given substances, either orally or in injections, which raise the levels of these hormones.
2. The development of oocytes in the ovarian follicles (fluid-filled spheres) is then monitored by vaginal ultrasound.
3. When the follicles acquire the right size and contain mature oocytes, an injection is given to the woman that causes ovulation and which marks the ideal time for fertilization and, if everything goes well, for pregnancy.
4. The two days following this moment, coinciding with ovulation, is when the couple must have sex or when intrauterine insemination is practiced, in which it is deposited, directly into the uterus through a catheter (flexible tube) , A sample of concentrated semen with highly mobile spermatozoa.
5. After five to seven days, with an ordinary blood test, it is checked that there are appropriate concentrations of hormones for the embryo to be implanted. If concentrations are low, hormone supplements are given.
The purpose of ovulatory induction is to increase the chance of ovulation at the right time and for the sperm to reach the ovum to fertilize it and engender a pregnancy. For many couples, the chance of a pregnancy with ovulatory treatment is around 20% in a single month.
Drugs used in ovulatory induction
Clomiphene citrate (Clomid® or Serophene®) are tablets (pills) that are taken orally and induce ovulation and maturation of oocytes. The effect of the medication on the ovaries is monitored with ultrasound.
Gonadotropins: medicines that are injected with a very fine needle. Gonadotropins in the United States are referred to by the following trademarks:
Gonal-F®
Follistim®
Bravelle®
Menopur®
All these drugs for superovulation are different forms of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), the most important hormone for the development of healthy oocytes, which makes the body itself in the pituitary. With the complementary contribution of FSH, it improves oocyte production.
Injectable drugs are more potent than those taken orally and tend to generate more eggs. Two or three ultrasounds and some blood tests are needed to control the oocyte maturation process and rule out risks.
Ovulation inducing medications (oocyte release)
Another substance that makes the organism is luteinizing hormone or lutropin (LH), which induces ovulation (detachment of the ovum from the mature follicle). Two other drugs are used to induce ovulation at the right time in the ovulatory cycle:
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), an ovulatory drug that induces ovulation and is marketed under the brands:
Pregnyl®
Novarel®
Ovidrel®, a synthetic gestagen hormone that induces ovulation. It occurs in pre-filled injections with a very small needle.
Drugs that favor implantation and the early stages of development
The body manufactures two hormones - estrogens and progesterone - that favor the implantation of the embryo and the incipient pregnancy. Some women do not make them in sufficient quantities and therefore an additional contribution is recommended to improve the prognosis of pregnancy. These medicines are:
Estrace®, a form of estrogen that is taken orally to promote implantation and pregnancy.
FemTrace®, another estrogen preparation that is also taken orally to promote implantation and pregnancy.
Prometrium®, a form of progesterone that is taken orally to promote implantation and pregnancy.
Endometrin®, another form of progesterone that is taken orally to promote implantation and pregnancy.
For more information on ovulatory medications and the induction of ovulation or superovulation, contact us.
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