Ovulation induction & Cycle Monitoring
If a woman has an irregular
menstrual cycle, monitoring with ultrasound
scans and hormone assessments may help to
identify the fertile time of the month and so
improve the chances of natural conception. If
ovulation is not occurring, then drugs may be
administered after the onset of menstruation to
stimulate egg production.
A number of drugs are now available to aid the
female partner to achieve multiple follicular
growth and to bring about ovulation ( the
release of the egg from the follicle into
fallopian tube ). Some drugs may be taken by
oral , by injection or by intranasal spray.
There are several methods of ovulation induction
depending on each patient. The combination of
GnRH-a and FSH is currently the most frequently
used methods for stimulating the ovaries. The
new and effective drug , GnRH-antagonist , is
now also introduced into this kind of treatment.
Careful monitoring will prevent the development
of too many eggs and will thus reduce the chance
of multiple pregnancies and the development of
the " ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome ".
Monitoring can be performed
in two ways :
-
by endocrine assay of the
blood levels of estrogen , LH and
progesterone
-
by ultrasound scanning
using the modern technique of vaginal
ultrasound which does not require the full
bladder. Using ultrasound , a picture of the
ovaries , the follicles and the endometrial
lining of the uterus can be obtained
When the follicular
development has reached the stage of the optimum
sizes, hCG will be administered to trigger
ovulation. Egg retrieval will be scheduled
within 34 - 36 hours after hCG administration. |
