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Role of Ovarian Stimulation in IVF
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Ovarian stimulation is a complex process but not risky. If done under the supervision of a trained and experienced gynecologist, the process can bear fruitful results for the woman and the couple at large.
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Basics of Ovulation:
Before diving deeper into the process and 'know-how' of the ovarian stimulation process, let's understand some basics of ovulation:
- Before the menstrual cycle, the pituitary gland of women releases a hormone known as follicle-stimulating hormone or FSH.
- FSH helps the follicles or the fluids that contain eggs to grow inside the ovaries.
- Ideally, one of these follicles will mature and release an egg. This process is known as ovulation.
- If the egg gets fertilized with sperm and implants into the uterine lining, the woman is considered to be successfully pregnant. If the implantation fails, the uterine lining is shed resulting in a period.
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What Happens before Ovarian Stimulation?
Before the ovarian stimulation process begins, the woman will have to undergo thorough testing to check and confirm the problems that she is facing. The tests include imaging tests like MRIs, and blood tests to check different hormonal levels. If needed, the woman might also be prescribed medications like birth control pills for a few weeks before the process starts. These are done to rule out any potential complications during ovarian stimulation.
What Happens in Ovarian Stimulation?
To start the ovarian stimulation, the IVF specialist injects medications into the ovaries for 10 days to 2 weeks to stimulate them to produce more eggs. This will highly depend on your follicles; if the follicles are slow, you might need to take the medication for a longer period.
The medications are injected to stimulate 2 hormones - Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) or Luteinizing Hormone (LH). The injected medications can induce a higher level of FSH in the body, allowing the ovaries to produce more mature eggs.
Before ovulation, there is a spike in the level of LH which is responsible for effective ovulation. For better results, a 'trigger shot' of hCG or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is injected to stimulate ovulation.
What to do or not to do after Ovulation Stimulation?
Ovulation stimulation has a major role to play in your entire IVF treatment process. Many a time, the process fails and the person needs to restart the whole process once again from the beginning. Your IVF specialist is likely to guide you with all the necessary to-dos. You need to follow them without fail for an effective outcome.
Don't stress - Stress hormones such as cortisol disrupt signaling between the brain and the ovaries can trip up ovulation. When your body goes through hormonal changes, stress and mood swings are common. If you cannot eliminate the stress, try to cut it down as far as you can.
Don't skip your medicines - Try to follow a regular plan to have medicines, injection or pills. You will have to go for regular tests, or might need to alter medications if required. If you think your body is not accepting any of these, rush to your specialist without delay.
Are there any Side Effects of Ovarian Stimulation?
Ovarian stimulation is, after all, an artificial process to stimulate the mechanism within your body. And, it is absolutely normal for the process to lead to certain side effects. However, with the advanced technological help and guidance of a trained doctor, the side effects can be minimised. According to The American Society for Reproductive Medicines, FSH and LH can cause the following side effects:
- Premature delivery
- Rashes, tenderness, and swelling of the breasts
- Risk of miscarriage
- Because multiple eggs are released in the process, there are chances that multiple eggs get implanted in the uterus leading to multiple births.
- Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome - Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is an exaggerated response to excess hormones. It usually occurs in women taking injectable hormone medications to stimulate the development of eggs in the ovaries. OHSS causes the ovaries to swell and become painful.
What to do for Effective Ovarian Stimulation results?
First thing first - for safe and effective IVF treatment, you need to approach a reliable and experienced infertility specialist. You need to get a flair understanding of the process before you begin the course. Your doctor must be thorough with everything that you undergo.
Ovulation stimulation is the most challenging part of the IVF treatment process. And your IVF specialist has the biggest role to play in this.
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