Ovarian stimulation for IVF can increase your odds of pregnancy
Trying to conceive without any luck can take over your whole life and create a lingering sense of disappointment. At Park Avenue Fertility, Andrew Levi MD, our Connecticut fertility clinic doctor, understands this frustration and offers exemplary medical care. Dr. Levi delivers leading-edge diagnosis and advanced fertility treatment options, including ovarian stimulation for IVF.
How does ovarian stimulation for IVF fit into a treatment cycle?
When conception occurs without intervention, a woman will release one egg during ovulation, and sperm from her partner fertilizes the egg. The embryo that develops implants in the uterus, resulting in pregnancy. With IVF, Dr. Levi and our team attempt to mimic a natural reproductive cycle. One of the critical components is ovarian stimulation for IVF, a process that increases egg production so that our Connecticut fertility clinic doctor can extract multiple eggs for fertilization in the lab.
What happens during ovarian stimulation?
Before you begin IVF, Dr. Levi will prescribe birth control pills to regulate and control your cycle timing. In the next step, you will take gonadotropins for approximately 10 to 12 days. These are injectable hormones used to stimulate the ovarian follicles so that they produce multiple mature eggs.
We will monitor your progress every few days with blood tests to check hormone levels, as well as ultrasounds to assess follicle size. Once the follicles reach the appropriate maturity, you will administer a trigger shot to induce ovulation within 36 hours, and Dr. Levi will schedule the outpatient egg retrieval procedure.
What are the signs of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome?
Ovarian hyperstimulation is a rare complication of IVF. When you take injectable fertility medications as part of ovarian stimulation for IVF, there is a small risk of developing ovarian hyperstimulation, or OHSS, a condition that may cause the ovaries to swell. You may experience bloating, nausea, pressure, diarrhea or leg pain with OHSS.
Most cases often improve on their own. More serious incidents may require additional medical treatment.
Let Dr. Levi know if you experience any of the following symptoms.
- Abdominal pain
- Excessive bloating or pressure
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Leg pain
No matter your situation, you can rely on our caring team and our Connecticut fertility clinic doctor. We will provide top-notch care and devise a comprehensive treatment plan to produce a successful outcome. Call our office for more information about ovarian stimulation for IVF, or to schedule a consultation appointment.