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Ovulation is when an egg is released from a woman's ovary, and it should occur once during every menstrual cycle. In some cases, a woman's body may not ovulate naturally. Ovulation induction therapy encourages ovulation via medical intervention. The purpose of this therapy is to increase the chances of conception, either from intercourse or fertility treatments, by increasing the number of eggs available to fertilize.
How Is Ovulation Induction Done?
Ovulation induction treatment uses either oral or injection-based medications, taken at properly timed intervals, to stimulate ovulation hormones. For women under 35, Dr. Saadat usually recommends oral medications, while for women over 35, he tends to recommend more powerful and precise hormone injections.
Who Might Need Ovulation Induction Therapy?
Several medical conditions may require ovulation induction therapy to achieve a successful pregnancy. In most cases, these conditions are linked to issues with hormone regulation, balance, or timing.
Ovulation induction therapy can help women with:
- A lack of ovulation/egg production
- Hormonal imbalances
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
Ovulation induction therapy treats these conditions by administering the relevant hormones at the proper time to stimulate ovulation. For women who are dealing with other types of infertility conditions, other treatments are available.
Should I Combine Ovulation Induction Therapy With Other Fertility Treatments?
Ovulation induction therapy is often used as part of a broader fertility strategy. For some women, merely stimulating ovulation is sufficient to achieve pregnancy. However, other treatments combined with ovulation therapy may be needed.
The two most common procedures that use ovulation induction therapy to increase the chances of conception are in vitro fertilization (IVF) and sperm donor insemination.
Ovulation Induction and In Vitro Fertilization
When used in conjunction with IVF, ovulation induction therapy produces the eggs needed to grow multiple embryos. The eggs are extracted and fertilized externally to produce viable embryos. One or more of these embryos are later transferred to the uterus in a separate procedure. For certain patients, the IVF process depends on successful ovulation induction therapy.
Ovulation Induction and Sperm Donor Insemination
Ovulation induction therapy can also be used to increase the chances of conception with sperm donor insemination. Sperm donor insemination inserts a concentrated sperm sample into the uterine cavity. A larger number of eggs during this process increases the chance that one of them will successfully be fertilized to create an embryo.
Can Ovulation Induction Help Preserve My Fertility?
Ovulation induction therapy can be used to help extract viable eggs from a patient. These eggs may be extracted and preserved for future use. Egg freezing and storage allows women to ensure the viability of their eggs, and thus, their ability to have children in the future if their ovarian reserve declines.
Interested in Ovulation Induction Therapy?
If you are interested in learning more about ovulation induction therapy or other fertility treatments, please call our office at (310) 881-8846. You may also fill out our online consultation form, and we will schedule your appointment at one of our Southern California offices.