The quest for fertility can be a challenging path, filled with emotions and expectations. At Mater Clinic, we understand the importance of each step in this journey and want to help you better understand one of the most common and crucial components in fertility treatments: hormonal medication.
This is the first of several articles where we will discuss each of the medications used in fertility treatments, to explore what they are and what they do. But first, let's talk a little generally about all of them:
Hormonal medication is an essential component in fertility treatments; these medications help regulate and stimulate the reproductive system, making it easier for many couples to achieve the much-desired pregnancy. The probability of achieving a natural pregnancy is about 23% per month or ovulatory cycle for a woman. In a couple with fertility problems, this probability is even lower: generally, 3% or less.
The goal of most medications used during a fertility treatment, whether artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization (IVF), is to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of assisted reproductive techniques. These medicines are designed to regulate and stimulate the reproductive system, facilitating optimal conditions for conception. But how exactly do they work?
Hormonal medication has several key purposes in fertility treatments.
Without it, many procedures simply wouldn't be possible or would have much lower success rates. At Mater Clinic, in our Alicante clinic, we customize each treatment plan according to individual needs, using hormonal medications safely and effectively. In general terms, all of them fulfill these functions:
Ovarian Stimulation: Medications such as clomiphene and gonadotropins help the ovaries produce more eggs, increasing the chances of conception.pción.
Menstrual Cycle Regulation: Some women have irregular menstrual cycles, making it difficult to plan a pregnancy. Hormonal medication can regulate these cycles, facilitating tracking and synchronization with other fertility treatments.
Support in Assisted Reproductive Techniques: In treatments such as IVF, hormonal medication prepares the uterus for embryo implantation and maintains a suitable environment for pregnancy development.
Let's look at different types of hormonal medications used for assisted reproduction.
The use of the contraceptive pill or oral estrogens before starting a stimulation cycle in IVF aims to organize and synchronize the development and growth of follicles in the ovary. In patients with low ovarian response, pre-treatment with androgens may be indicated to improve the ovary's response to stimulation.
Injectable medication used to stimulate the ovary (Gonal, Puregon, Bemfola, Fostipur, Elonva, Pergoveris, Menopur, Meriofert…) aims to achieve multiple follicular developments. In an IVF cycle, it will allow having a greater number of mature oocytes, which will permit more embryos to be developed for selecting the best ones to transfer to the uterus, thus improving pregnancy expectations.
In specific cases, there are also oral medications that stimulate ovulation, such as clomiphene citrate (Omifin). In the case of artificial insemination, ovarian stimulation aims to ensure correct ovulation. In IVF, during ovarian stimulation, there is a risk of premature ovulation. To avoid this, medications such as GnRH agonists and antagonists are used to prevent this premature maturation and ovulation, which have since their appearance decreased treatment cancellations due to this cause.
At the end of stimulation, once optimal follicular development has been achieved (when they exceed 18 mm in diameter with appropriate levels of estradiol and progesterone in the blood), the extraction and retrieval of the oocytes are scheduled through ovarian puncture. To trigger this final maturation, hCG hormone (Ovitrelle) is usually used 36 hours before the intervention.
After artificial insemination or ovarian puncture, in the case of IVF, progesterone is indicated to ensure proper "maturation" of the endometrium, necessary for a normal embryo implantation process.
Hormonal medication has revolutionized infertility treatment, allowing many couples to fulfill their dream of having children. However, it is crucial that these medications are administered and supervised by fertility specialists like those at Mater Clinic, as misuse can have side effects and complications.
At Mater Clinic, we firmly believe that each person is unique and, therefore, needs a personalized approach to their fertility treatment. Not all medications are the same for everyone, and our team of specialists works hard to determine the right combination and dosage for each patient. We have witnessed numerous success cases thanks to hormonal medication, which is a powerful tool in the arsenal of fertility treatments available today. Understanding how they work and how they can help you is the first step in making informed decisions on your path to motherhood.
If you are considering fertility treatments and want to know more about how hormonal medication can help you, do not hesitate to contact us. At Mater Clinic, your well-being and dreams are our priority. Our personalized approach maximizes success probabilities and minimizes risks and side effects. We are here to guide and support you at every stage of this exciting journey.
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At Mater Clinic, we have human professionals always ready to clear your doubts. If you want more information, you can write to us without any obligation or book an appointment with us. We are on doctoralia or you can write to our WhatsApp number at 645 096 548 or through your preferred contact method. We will be delighted to talk to you!
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