For women with an irregular cycle, a light hormonal stimulation is given so that one or maximum two follicles grow. This hormonal stimulation can take the form of medication ingested during 5 days of the cycle or daily hormonal injections until ovulation is achieved.
On the third day of the cycle the intake of 1 tablet/day for 5 days is started.
Around day 10-12 of the cycle, a first ultrasound is performed to assess the response of the ovaries.
If one or two follicles are growing, the ultrasound scan is repeated until the largest diameter of the follicles is approximately 20 mm, with or without a blood sample. At that moment we expect the egg to be ripe and ovulation is triggered with a injection of hCG. From this moment on, the woman is fertile and spontaneous sexual relations can be started if the sperm quality is normal.
If there is no response from the ovaries, the dose of medication can be increased to a maximum of three tablets per day. Or we could switch to daily injections.
Also in case of hormonal injections, the reaction of the ovaries is monitored by ultrasound and in the blood until the largest diameter of the follicles is about 20 mm. The treatment runs parallel to medication in tablet form.
If the stimulation results in 3 or more follicles in both cases, the cycle is stopped to avoid the risk of multiple pregnancies.
For more information, please consult your treating physician.
