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Ovulation Induction

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Clinical Reproductive Medicine and Surgery

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Abstract

Anovulation is a common cause of infertility and usually presents as menstrual irregularity. A complete evaluation of the couple is mandatory to exclude systemic illnesses and other infertility factors. The first line treatment for ovulatory disorder should include lifestyle changes if applicable followed by treatment with ovulatory inducing agents according to the underlying pathology in a stepwise approach. If conventional treatment is unsuccessful, patient can be treated with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and in vitro fertilization.

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Abbreviations

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS):

Common cause of oligo- or anovulation, see chapter on PCOS

Clomiphene citrate:

Selective estrogen receptor modulator oral medication, mainly used for ovulation induction

Letrozole:

Aromatase inhibitor oral medication, typically used in treatment of breast cancer but also used off-label for ovulation induction

Gonadotropins:

Menopausal urinary or recombinant FSH and LH used in ovulation induction as well as in vitro fertilization

Metformin:

Insulin-sensitizing agent from the family of biguanides sometimes used in combination with clomiphene or gonadotropins for the treatment of PCOS

Laparoscopic ovarian drilling:

Procedure performed by diathermy or laser to indirectly promote ovulation in PCOS patient. Rarely used nowadays

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada

    Togas Tulandi MD, MHCM & Hélène S. Weibel MD

Authors
  1. Togas Tulandi MD, MHCM
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  2. Hélène S. Weibel MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Togas Tulandi MD, MHCM .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Tommaso Falcone

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA

    William W. Hurd

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Tulandi, T., Weibel, H.S. (2017). Ovulation Induction. In: Falcone, T., Hurd, W. (eds) Clinical Reproductive Medicine and Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52210-4_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52210-4_16

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-52209-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-52210-4

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