Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation

Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation is a technique used in <a href="/facts/Assisted_reproduction/f3qpbE3X">assisted reproduction</a> involving the use of <a href="/facts/Fertility_medication/lRKexQT4">fertility medications</a> to induce <a href="/facts/Ovulation/0K3MLdAv">ovulation</a> by multiple <a href="/facts/Ovarian_follicles/7eKGUwb6">ovarian follicles</a>. These multiple follicles can be taken out by <a href="/facts/Transvaginal_oocyte_retrieval/3j2bWJNC">oocyte retrieval</a> (egg collection) for use in <a href="/facts/In_vitro_fertilisation/kQNMtaBu">in vitro fertilisation</a> (IVF), or be given time to ovulate, resulting in superovulation which is the ovulation of a larger-than-normal number of eggs, generally in the sense of at least two. When ovulated follicles are fertilised in vivo, whether by natural or artificial <a href="/facts/Insemination/j40KhqLP">insemination</a>, there is a very high risk of a <a href="/facts/Multiple_pregnancy/bVVVhRvs">multiple pregnancy</a>.
In this article, unless otherwise specified, hyperstimulation will refer to hyperstimulation as part of IVF. In contrast, <a href="/facts/Ovulation_induction/PKB21JVx">ovulation induction</a> is ovarian stimulation without subsequent IVF, with the aim of developing one or two ovulatory follicles.

Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation open-in-new

Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation