The second step in the IVF (In vitro Fertilization) procedure is the stimulation of the ovaries. This procedure is performed in order to get the ovaries to produce multiple follicles, rather than just the normal one mature egg that is normally produced.
Hormone treatment
For follicle growth to take place the doctor will administer by injection the reproductive hormones, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), for anywhere from one to two weeks. These are a woman’s body’s natural hormones that cause ovulation, but by introducing more than normally produced naturally your ovaries will produce more follicles.
During your regular ovulation cycle generally only one egg is produced. However, for your IVF procedure it is best to produce as many healthy eggs as possible. This is so that there is an ample supply to select from for implantation. The best one will be chosen for implantation, and any embryos that are not used may be frozen in case the procedure fails the first time and has to be repeated.
If the procedure is successful the first time they may be kept frozen for future use or they can be donated to other couples who have not been successful in producing their own.
Monitoring the treatment
During this one to two week period you will be required to visit your doctor about every other day so that they may monitor the progress of the ovarian stimulation treatment. This is done by using ultrasound to measure the growth of the egg producing follicles and the uterine lining thickness.
The uterine lining should become thicker as the treatment progresses. Blood is also drawn to monitor your estrogen levels. Monitoring estrogen levels also reveals the progress of follicle growth.
Please join us in our series A beginners introduction to IVF (In Vitro Fertilization). This was Step 2 and the rest are to follow as we explore an IVF Cycle and In Vitro Fertilization. Step 1 can be found here: Initial IVF Consultation & Preparing the Ovaries for Stimulation