Abstract
Over the past 20 years, the benefits of ovarian stimulation have transformed the field of reproductive endocrinology as it pertains to the treatment of infertility. While previously considered appropriate only for treatment of anovulation, ovarian stimulation with gonadotropins and/or clomiphene citrate for ovulation induction now plays a major role in the management of other disorders affecting fertility such as unexplained infertility, endometriosis, male factor, and cervical factor infertility. Proposed mechanisms by which ovarian stimulation improves fecundity include normalization of abnormal gonadotropin patterns, improved folliculogenesis, improved endometrial receptivity, increased availability of fertilizable oocytes, increased preovulatory estradiol (E2) levels, and correction of occult ovulatory dysfunction. Ovarian stimulation in combination with intrauterine insemination for the treatment of unexplained infertility, male factor, and minimal/mild endometriosis shows an efficacy three to five times greater than no treatment. In addition, ovarian stimulation has improved in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes by enabling the development of multiple embryos and a choice of the best embryos for transfer.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Handbook of the Assisted Reproduction Laboratory |
| Publisher | CRC Press |
| Pages | 139-178 |
| Number of pages | 40 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781420039795 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780849316777 |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2000 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine