Can Ovulation Induction Help You to Get Pregnant?

Women who have regular periods will release an egg from their ovaries in the middle of their cycle. This is known as ovulation. If you’re trying for a baby without assisted reproductive treatments such as IVF, ovulation is necessary for egg and sperm to meet. However, up to a third of women who have issues conceiving find that they are not ovulating regularly.

Luckily, there are many ways to trigger ovulation. Here, we’ll look at how ovulation induction works, what it involves, and how it has helped many women to successfully conceive with fewer risks and costs compared to  IVF.

What are Ovulation Problems and Why Might Some Women Experience Them?

If you believe you have ovulation problems, you’re not alone. Up to 20% of women in the UK are experiencing something similar - either not ovulating at all, or ovulating during some cycles, but not others. 

Common conditions that can create problems with ovulation include: 

• PCOS - One of the main features of PCOS is irregular periods, caused by ovaries that are not releasing eggs.
• Hormonal Imbalances – your brain is not producing enough of the hormones needed for ovulation.
• Premature ovarian insufficiency – this is where the ovaries stop functioning before a woman is 40.

If you’re experiencing irregular periods, or your periods are unusually long, this can be a sign that you are not ovulating regularly. 

Certain medications can help to stimulate the release of hormones that trigger egg production.

When Can I Begin Ovulation Induction?

During your initial consultation with a consultant gynaecologist, they’ll explore your medical history and may recommend an ultrasound scan and blood tests, to better understand your reproductive health.

Prior to starting ovulation induction, they might also recommend checking that there are no obstructions in your fallopian tubes, by performing a HyCoSy scan to ensure that the egg and sperm can meet.

If you have not had a period for a while, you might also be offered medication to induce a bleed, following an ultrasound scan and a negative pregnancy test. 

If you have just started your period, we might be able to start you on ovulation inducing medication straight away.

What Type of Medication Will I be Prescribed?

Typically, we’ll prescribe Clomiphene (also known as Clomid) or Letrozole, which you’ll take orally in the form of tablets. These tablets work by helping to stimulate the release of hormones that trigger egg production. 

Once you have finished your course of medication, we will monitor you appropriately with scans, blood tests, and urine tests, so we can advise you on the best time for intercourse. Depending on your situation, we may also prescribe you a trigger injection to ensure that the egg is released at the right time.

Tablets should be taken orally between day 2 and day 6 of your cycle (which will typically coincide with your menstrual bleed). You will then be monitored with ultrasound scans, urine hormone testing and blood tests as needed, to allow us to advise you on when to have intercourse to boost your chances of conception.

Are There any Risks Associated With Ovulation Induction Medication?

The most common side effect of taking letrozole or clomiphene is hot flushes, as well as

occasional fatigue, dizziness and nausea. Letrozole has not been granted a specific licence to allow treatment for fertility and is therefore not approved for ovulation induction. However, it has been used for many years with success, and has a good safety profile.

How Successful is Ovulation Stimulation? 

Two thirds of women will ovulate on letrozole or clomiphene, and of these, 25-50% will achieve a positive pregnancy. The chances of the pregnancy developing normally are similar to pregnancies conceived without ovulation induction.

What if Ovulation Induction Doesn’t Work?

If, after six months of ovulation induction treatment, you are still not pregnant, your consultant gynaecologist will be able to discuss further treatment options, which may include IVF.

What are the Main Benefits of Visiting Our Clinic if You are Struggling to Conceive?

Anything from irregular periods, to existing medical conditions such as PCOS, can have an impact on your fertility. At our clinic, we have fertility experts and consultant gynaecologists on hand who can assess your overall health, and look at potential ways of boosting your chances of conceiving. We also offer comprehensive female and male fertility assessments, that can help you to better understand your fertility status for family planning now, or in the future.

Make an Appointment at Our Clinic

To find out more about consultant-led ovulation induction at our London-based clinic, please call 020 7244 4200 or you can make an appointment online.