Why?
There are three situations in which ovarian stimulation can be usefull.
- Absence of ovulation
- Ovulation of insufficient quality
- Induction of multiple ovulation
In women with a long and irregular cycle or women who do not menstruate it is highly probable that ovulation will remain absent.
In women with brown discharge in the days before actual menstruation, ovulation is often of impaired quality.
Inducing multiple ovulation can increase the chance of pregnancy under strict monitoring. In such cases, the risk of a multiple birth should always be considered.
How?
Clomid stimulation
Clomid is an anti-female hormone that you take at the start of the cycle. In so doing, you send a signal to the control centre in the brain (the pituitary gland) that too little female hormone is circulating. As a reaction to this, the pituitary gland will incite the ovaries to mature an egg, which in turn is responsible for producing female hormone. The body is therefore actually bringing itself back into balance. Clomid stimulation is always carried out under echographic control. This avoids large multiple pregnancies, and also allows doctors to check that the anti-effect of Clomid is not gaining the upper hand.
Practical info : your doctor will prescribe you the necessary medication, which you can buy from the pharmacy.
At the start of your period, you call the central number (02/8910956) for an initial echography. If this does not reveal any cysts or abnormalities, you can start taking the tablets for 5 days. The effect of the clomid will then be monitored via echography and blood tests. For this, you will be given an appointment at the fertility monitoring consultation.
When the egg is mature you must have an injection of Pregnyl or a variant. You will be taught to administer this yourself beneath the skin. At the time of ovulation you will then be advised to have intercourse or insemination will be planned (see below).
Luteal support : in the second half of the cycle you may be advised to take medication to promote implantation. Commonly prescribed medication for this includes Utrogestan, Pregnyl or Crinone. This is rarely necessary with Clomid stimulation.
Menopur stimulation
The principle here is simple. Menopur is a substance that acts directly on the ovary to trigger egg maturation. At high doses, several eggs will mature.
Practical info: Your fertility doctor will provide you with an application document (model B1). You must send this to your health insurance fund, which will reimburse you via document B2. You need this document to obtain a prescription for the medication via document B3.
Menopur are injections for administration beneath the skin. The stimulation midwife will give you a model box with syringes and needles. She will explain to you how to administer the injections yourself.(see video)
At the start of your period, you call the central number for an initial echography(02/8910956). If this does not reveal any abnormalities, you can start the injections. After a few days the reaction of the ovaries is checked via a follow-up echography. For this, you will be given an appointment at the fertility-monitoring consultation.
When the egg is mature you will be asked to inject Pregnyl. At ovulation, you then have intercourse or insemination is planned.