Hormonal / ovarian stimulation

In some cases, hormonal stimulation is used to optimise follicular maturation and induce ovulation. The ideal timing for a sexual intercourse between the couple trying to get pregnant can then be calculated.

Hormonal stimulation also makes sense before proceeding with the sperm transfer (insemination using the partner's sperm). This is often used when disturbances to follicular maturation are determined or suspected, or if the male suffers from a mild fertility disorder.

Stimulation treatment is also necessary in the context of transfer of donor sperm. This is performed whenever pregnancy has previously failed to materialise when hormonal stimulation was not used, or when a follicular maturation disorder is known or suspected.

Fertilisation procedures outside the body – IVF (in-vitro fertilisation) and ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) – also start with a hormonal stimulation phase. The goal here is to stimulate the ovary in a controlled way to encourage multiple follicles to mature, so that in the next step, several eggs can be removed and combined with the partner's sperm.