Infertility treatment for women requires the Ovulation Induction process. It is a treatment method for female ovulation problems. To better understand it, let’s first see the normal ovulation process taking place in every woman. Ovulation is the natural process happening inside the female reproductive system where mature eggs are released from the ovary. It happens 12 -14 days after the first day of the menstrual cycle(at a normal 28 days cycle).
At this time the released eggs travel through the fallopian tube where they get fertilized by the sperm. Hence there is a high chance of women getting pregnant around ovulation day.To ease ovulation problems, the Ovulation Induction technique is used. OI is a technique of treatment where some drugs(ovulogens) are used to stimulate the woman’s ovaries to produce mature follicles which will have eggs within.
As the term sounds new to you, the procedures used in it are also new to you. To understand it better let’s scroll down.
WHO NEEDS OVALUTION INDUCTION(OI):
OI intends to make a woman pregnant either through natural sexual intercourse or any other fertility treatments.
*It is very useful in women who don’t ovulate regularly(Anovulation) and find difficulty in conceiving. A common example of this condition is Polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD). PCOD is commonly found in women who have irregular periods.
*It also increases the number of mature eggs reaching ovulation in a single cycle and helps in increasing the chances of conception in a woman with regular periods also.
*Almost 25 to 30% of women with infertility have problems with ovulation, thereby here comes our magic wand OI to cure it.
DRUGS USED:
Medically for any treatment drugs are used for a better outcome. Common drugs used orally for Ovulation Induction are called Oral Ovulogens. It is the first-line treatment given for OI. The most common oral ovulogens are clomiphene citrate (CC) and letrozole. These drugs increase the FSH(Follicle Stimulating Hormone) level and help in the growth of a mature follicle.
When the first-line treatment does not produce effective results, the fertility specialist will suggest you the second-line treatment. Instead of oral drugs here injectable hormones called gonadotrophins are used. The common gonadotrophins used are
*FSH(Follicle Stimulating Hormone)
*LH(Luteinizing Hormone)
*Human Menopausal Gonadotropin (HMG)
*Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG).
The success rate of these drugs may depend on various factors. Fertility specialists may monitor you at regular intervals through USG and see when an egg is mature and get released(ovulation).
SUCCESS RATE AND SIDE EFFECTS OF OI:
The general success rate of OI is almost 18 to 20% per cycle. The success of OI depends on the diagnosis and many other influencing factors, especially the woman’s age. Subsequently the younger the age, the better the result. Some common side effects of ovulation induction are
*It causes an increased risk of multiple pregnancies.
*The cost involved with OI is high.
*OI needs frequent hospital visits.
*It causes Ovarian Hyperstimulation
Additionally, the panic myth is whether the OI process and its medicines cause any ovarian cancer and birth defects. As of now, there is no conclusive evidence that OI causes cancer and birth defects. It is completely safe for both the mother and the unborn baby.
HOW MANY OI IS ADVISABLE?
Usually, it is recommended to try ovulation induction for a maximum of 6 cycles. The first three cycles give the best success rate. Repeated OI is not advisable and one needs to discuss the reasons for failure and move on to the next step.
Thus to summarise ovulation induction is a needed procedure for infertile women. As explained previously, it is safe for your health. To have a happy family, focus on the positives and undergo the OI process.
