Treatment Journey > Ovarian stimulation

Once you have had all your screening tests done and been to a treatment information appointment with a nurse you are ready to commence treatment. 

The next stage involves stimulating the ovaries, this will be described in detail to you and backed up with written instructions.  The first part of your stimulation is known as downregulation and makes the ovaries temporarily inactive and improves their responsiveness to the hormone injections.  Follicle Stimulating Hormone (GonalF, Meryanol) injections are then given when confirmation, by ultrasound showns that the ovaries are completely inactive. 

We will monitor your response to the injections by using ultrasound scans over a period of a few days.  We aim to get the leading follicles to about 18 to 20mm.

hCG (human Chorionic Gonadotrophin) : the late night injection

When the follicles have reached the required size and the endometrium is sufficiently developed, a crucial injection of hCG is given to ripen the eggs prior to their collection approximately 36 hours later. This injection is given at a specific time at night (usually between 9.00pm and 1.00am) and is directly related to the time of your egg collection.