Ovulation Induction (OI) What is it?

There are two types of medication used to induce ovulation: tablets (oral medication) or daily injections. If you’re undergoing ovulation induction at the same time as IUI treatment, either type of medication is suitable. Your specialist will decide which medication is best for you.

The two most common oral medications used in ovulation induction are Letrozole and Clomiphene Citrate.

Both medications work by blocking oestrogen receptors in the body. This tricks the brain into increasing follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) production, which stimulates your ovaries to produce follicles. Follicles are the small fluid-filled sacs on the ovary which contain an egg. If these follicles develop a dominant follicle and mature, they will release an egg during ovulation.

Letrozole and Clomiphene are usually taken for five days in the first half of your menstrual cycle.

Monash IVF tip: These medications may have some side effects - but these usually pass within a few days of stopping the medication. These include hot flushes, thickening of cervical mucus and mood changes.

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) is a pure hormone injected daily in the first half of your menstrual cycle. It’s injected just under the skin with a very fine needle, usually via a pen-device.

It may feel daunting at first to inject yourself - we completely understand this. That’s why our fertility nurses are on hand to walk you through the process step-by-step. It’s surprisingly easy - you’ll be a master in no time.

Ovulation induction is a fertility treatment that uses medication to stimulate the ovaries and induce ovulation. It is often recommended for women with irregular or absent menstrual cycles, making it difficult to predict when ovulation will occur. The goal is to help women conceive naturally without needing more invasive treatments like IVF.

Ovulation induction may be recommended if you:

• Have irregular or absent menstrual cycles
• Have unexplained infertility
• Have healthy fallopian tubes
• Are premenopausal but not ovulating regularly
  Your fertility specialist will assess your medical history and circumstances to determine if this treatment is right for you.

The process typically involves three steps:

1. Medication: Oral tablets or hormone injections are used to stimulate the ovaries so a follicle can mature and release an egg.
2. Monitoring: Blood tests and ultrasounds track follicle development and identify the fertile window. A trigger injection may be used to ensure ovulation occurs at the right time.
3. Support: Additional medications may be prescribed in the second half of the cycle to support hormone levels and improve the chances of pregnancy.

There are two main types of medication:

• Oral medications: Letrozole and Clomiphene Citrate are commonly prescribed. They work by blocking oestrogen receptors, which stimulates the ovaries to produce follicles.
• FSH injections: Follicle Stimulating Hormone is injected daily to encourage follicle growth. These injections are given under the skin with a fine needle, often using a pen device.

The main risk is multiple pregnancy, as more than one follicle may mature and release an egg in a single cycle. Multiple pregnancies can increase health risks for both mother and babies. To minimise this risk, your fertility specialist will closely monitor your cycle with blood tests and ultrasounds. If too many follicles develop, you may be advised to avoid sex during that cycle and try again the following month.

If ovulation induction is unsuccessful, your fertility specialist will discuss other treatment options with you. These may include intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilisation (IVF), depending on your individual circumstances.