What to Expect During Ovulation Induction

Are you struggling with conceiving a child? Your ovulation cycle could be to blame. Good news, there’s a simple procedure that can help you ovulate and time your conception attempts to increase your chances of getting pregnant.

Our team of reproductive specialists at University Reproductive Associates has helped couples throughout New Jersey and the greater New York City metro area overcome fertility problems. If your infertility is due to ovulation issues, ovulation induction could be the answer.

Ovulation 101

Hormonal changes in your body typically trigger ovulation. A follicle starts growing on your ovary, with a maturing egg inside. The follicle eventually bursts, and the egg is released into the fallopian tube. The egg travels down the tube to the uterus, where it is either fertilized by sperm or sloughed away during menstruation. 

Why you might need ovulation induction

If your body isn’t producing the right hormones in the correct amounts, you might need ovulation induction. You can take oral hormones, or our team can inject them to trigger follicle growth and egg maturation and release. 

The ovulation induction process 

There are several steps to ovulation induction. Our team will go over all of these steps with you so you know what to expect. 

Baseline ultrasound

Three days after your period starts, our team will perform an ultrasound to get an idea of what your uterus and fallopian tubes normally look like.

Medications

Medication also starts on day three of your cycle. If our team has prescribed oral medication, you’ll take it either between the third and seventh days of your cycle, or the fifth and ninth days of your cycle. On day 10 or 11 another, a transvaginal ultrasound will let our team see the progress of your follicle.

If you’re prescribed an injectable medication, you’ll get shots starting on the third day and then every day for six to 10 days. Our team will monitor you with repeated ultrasounds to track the development of your follicle.

You may have some mood swings, hot flashes, or other symptoms consistent with hormonal fluctuation. 

HCG administration

Once the biggest follicle is 16 to 18 mm across, you’ll receive an injection of the hormone HCG to trigger the egg to finish maturing and release from the follicle. Once the shot is administered (usually by yourself or your partner) ovulation will take place within 36 hours. 

Insemination

You and your partner can engage in sex to encourage insemination, or you can opt for the intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedure, which involves taking washed and concentrated sperm and injecting it through the cervix into the uterus.  

Are you having trouble conceiving? Do you suspect an ovulation issue is to blame? Get in touch with the team at URA by calling 201-288-6330, or visit the contact page for more information.