Ovarian stimulation is one of the therapeutic options for women who have ovulation problems, as well as a precondition for Assisted Reproduction techniques.
The female reproductive system is more developed and complex than in men, and requires the functional and anatomical integrity that goes from the center of the brain to the vaginal introitus. Fertilization (union of the male and female gamete) and the conception of the new being take place in the vagina. However, the process of production and release of the gamete (ovum) is also more complex than in the male.
What does the ovulation process consist of?
In ovulation, we can distinguish a phase of development and growth of the ovum and another of ovulation itself, releasing the mature ovum out of the ovary into the fallopian tube, where it will meet the spermatozoon and, therefore, fertilization will take place.
The first phase (oocyte growth and maturation) takes place within an ovarian structure called the follicle. In it, the female hormones, which provide the optimal conditions for the initial development of the pregnancy, are produced at the same time as the egg is maturing. Likewise, any alteration in the woman’s state of health or the influence of any harmful substance coming from outside (tobacco, radiation, drugs…) can interfere in this process.
What pathologies can cause ovulation problems?
There are several pathological situations (especially in the context of endocrine diseases) that impede oocyte development, making ovulation and pregnancy difficult. In order to solve them, medical treatment guidelines have been designed to correct them individually, focusing on the specific cause that provokes them.
In this regard, the first drug used (still in the first line of therapy in many clinical practice guidelines) is clomiphene citrate. It is administered conveniently, orally, and is usually free of major side effects. However, it has to be the Assisted Reproduction specialist who prescribes, determines the dose and controls the possible risks and benefits.
The second group of drugs used in ovulation stimulation consists of preparations that simulate the actions of the brain hormones that regulate the ovarian cycle, especially FSH. They are more sophisticated and modern drugs than clomiphene citrate, and the route of administration is usually parenteral.
They are drugs normally chosen in the preamble of Assisted Reproduction techniques, since, with them, the final results are better for conception. In addition, dosage and control during ovarian stimulation require more skill on the part of the specialist, a monitoring that requires a continuous balance between risks and benefits, and who must be alert to possible interferences with other hormonal problems.