There are several reasons for using gonadotropins. Most commonly, they are given to women who without the use of medications do not ovulate. Because gonadotropins often cause ovulation of more than one egg, these medications are sometimes given to women who might ovulate a single egg in each cycle without the use of medication, but who do not become pregnant under those circumstances. By inducing ovulation of more than one egg, the chances of achieving pregnancy are improved. Some women do not ovulate on clomiphene, but respond well to gonadotropins.
Gonadotropins are powerful ovarian stimulants.
You will require close monitoring while on these medications. Monitoring consists of frequent ultrasounds that may be performed by our nurses or physicians, and blood tests for estradiol determination. While on gonadotropins, there should be an increase in the size of your ovarian follicular cysts and in the level of estradiol in your blood. A postcoital test may be ordered a few days before or the day after the hCG injection. Ovulation usually occurs 36 to 40 hours after the hCG injection, and this is the best time for intercourse.