Can ovulation induction increase your chance of getting pregnant naturally?

If you are trying to get pregnant then ovulation induction could increase your chances of success. 

If you have not become pregnant after a year of trying there is a one in three chance that this is caused by your ovaries not regularly producing eggs.

Irregular periods is one indication that you might not be ovulating – releasing an egg once a month –  the most common cause is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) whilst other reasons include weight gain, weight loss, stress or an underlying health issue.

So it is good to have your ovulation checked if you are trying to conceive, particularly if there is a family history of early menopause.

What happens when you ovulate?

In a natural cycle, hormones from the brain tell the follicles in a woman’s ovaries to produce an egg – and once a month a ‘ripe’ egg will then be released into the fallopian tube ready to be fertilised by a single sperm.

You’re most fertile within a day or two either side of an egg being released from your ovaries. This usually occurs around 14 days after the beginning of a period, but it can vary between 11-16 days.

Don’t worry that you will miss this ‘window’.  Sperm can survive inside your body for several days, so if you have sex every 2-3 days about this time that will give you the best chance of getting pregnant.

The most common fertility medicines used in Ovulation Induction are the following:

Clomifene citrate (Clomid)

Clomid is an effective treatment which stimulates your ovaries to produce more eggs. It is often the first course of treatment for women with polycystic ovaries but it can also be used by women who have late or irregular periods.

Metformin

Metformin is a drug used in the treatment of people with diabetes but it can also be used by others who also have abnormal insulin levels.

Women with PCOS can develop insulin resistance and to compensate, the body will produce more insulin than it needs and this can lead to high androgen (male hormone) levels.  Metformin reduces insulin in the body to normal levels, allowing ovulation to return to normal.

Gonadotrophins

Gonadotrophins can be used by women with PCOS who haven’t become pregnant with Clomid and are still experiencing problems with ovulation. They are hormones that you inject into the body to help stimulate egg production.

Bromocriptine and Cabergoline

Bromocriptine and Cabergoline can be used by women who produce too much of the prolactin hormone, a condition called hyperprolactinemia.

Prolactin is produced by the pituitary gland in the brain and too much of it can reduce levels of oestrogen in the body, making ovulation difficult. Bromocriptine and Cabergoline both increase levels of dopamine in the brain, which helps to reduce levels of prolactin production and return ovulation to normal.

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