Donor Tissue Counseling
Ovulation induction is a fertility treatment that uses medication to help one or more follicles mature and support the release of an egg. It may be recommended for people who do not ovulate regularly or who may benefit from improving the timing or number of eggs available for fertilization.
During a natural menstrual cycle, hormones stimulate a follicle in the ovary to mature and eventually release an egg during ovulation. When ovulation does not happen consistently—or when a fertility treatment plan calls for additional follicle development—medication can be used to support this process.
Ovulation induction typically involves taking an oral fertility medication, such as letrozole or clomiphene citrate, for approximately five days early in the menstrual cycle. Your Spring Fertility physician will determine the medication, dosage, and monitoring plan based on your individual diagnosis and treatment goals.
Ovulation induction may be considered for people who:
Before recommending treatment, your physician will evaluate factors such as your age, menstrual cycle, ovarian reserve, reproductive history, and results from fertility testing.
Treatment generally begins early in your menstrual cycle with several days of oral medication. Depending on your treatment plan, your care team may use ultrasound and/or hormone testing to monitor follicle development and determine when ovulation is likely to occur.
Once a follicle—or an appropriate number of follicles—has matured, your physician may recommend timed intercourse or IUI around ovulation. In some cycles, an injectable “trigger shot” may be used to help precisely time ovulation.
Stimulating the ovaries can sometimes cause more than one egg to mature and ovulate. While this may increase the opportunity for fertilization in appropriately selected patients, it also increases the possibility of twins or a higher-order multiple pregnancy.
Monitoring follicle development allows your physician to evaluate this risk during treatment and make recommendations based on your individual response.
Ovulation induction is not a one-size-fits-all treatment. Your Spring Fertility physician will recommend a protocol based on why you are having difficulty conceiving, how your ovaries respond to medication, and the treatment approach most appropriate for your goals.
For some patients, ovulation induction may be combined with timed intercourse. For others, it may be paired with intrauterine insemination (IUI) or another fertility treatment.