Ovulation Induction-Ovulation Stimulation with Oral Medication

As a first line of active medical treatment, oral stimulation medication is widely used. This is especially helpful for women with irregular periods, which is suggestive of a problem of ovulation, or egg release. This level of treatment is also widely used in many women with normal cycles, who are seeking a simple, easy to use, inexpensive treatment with a low side effect profile. These medications include Clomiphene Citrate (Clomid), Letrozole (Femara), and Tamoxifen. These medications act to enhance a woman’s’ ovulation, and yield a 5-10 % per cycle pregnancy rate when combined with timed intercourse or intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Risks of ovarian hyper-stimulation (over-stimulation) and multiple gestations (twins, triplets etc,) are low. Many couples opt for 3-4 cycles at this level before progressing to more advanced treatment. Individual circumstances or choice, however, may warrant a more intense treatment approach.