Ovarian Stimulation
What is ovarian stimulation?
Ovarian stimulation — also known as controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, ovulation induction, ovarian priming, or egg stimulation — is a medical process used in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) to encourage a woman’s ovaries to produce multiple eggs during a single menstrual cycle. In gestational surrogacy, it’s a key step in in vitro fertilization (IVF), enabling egg retrieval from the intended mother or egg donor to create embryos for transfer to a gestational carrier.
How does ovarian stimulation work?
The process begins with a woman — typically the intended mother or egg donor — receiving daily hormonal injections, such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), for 8-14 days to stimulate follicle growth in the ovaries. Medications like GnRH agonists or antagonists prevent premature ovulation. Ultrasounds and blood tests monitor progress, adjusting doses as needed. Once follicles reach maturity, a trigger shot (hCG or Lupron) prompts egg release, followed by retrieval under sedation within 36 hours. In surrogacy, retrieved eggs are fertilized to form embryos, later transferred to the carrier via fresh or Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET), with costs included in IVF fees ($10,000-$20,000).
What’s its role in surrogacy?
Ovarian stimulation is foundational to gestational surrogacy, supplying the eggs needed to create embryos without a genetic link to the carrier. It allows intended parents to use their own eggs or a donor’s, tailoring parenthood to their needs — whether due to infertility, same-sex partnerships, or single status. By maximizing egg yield, it boosts the odds of viable embryos, supporting the carrier’s pregnancy and the IPs’ family-building goals, tightly integrated with legal and financial planning in the gestational carrier agreement (GCA).
What are common features?
- Hormonal medications: FSH, LH, and trigger shots drive egg production.
- Monitoring: Frequent ultrasounds and estrogen tests ensure safety and timing.
- Egg retrieval: A minor procedure yields multiple eggs for IVF.
- Side effects: Temporary bloating, mood swings, or mild discomfort are common.
- Personalization: Protocols vary based on age, ovarian reserve, or donor status.
What is the history of ovarian stimulation?
Ovarian stimulation developed with IVF in the 1970s, culminating in the 1978 birth of Louise Brown in Oldham, England, using early clomiphene protocols. The 1980s saw gonadotropin injections refined in Melbourne, Australia, at Monash University, boosting egg yields. Clinics in Los Angeles, California, advanced monitoring techniques in the 1990s, improving safety. By the 2000s, Spain’s Barcelona pioneered milder stimulation for donors, while Canada’s Toronto integrated it into regulated surrogacy, shaping its critical role in global ART practices today.
Who uses ovarian stimulation?
- Intended mothers: Undergo stimulation to provide eggs for surrogacy embryos.
- Egg donors: Stimulated to supply eggs when IPs cannot use their own.
- Fertility clinics: Administer and monitor the process for successful IVF.
- Gestational carriers: Benefit indirectly, receiving embryos from stimulation outcomes.
What are benefits and considerations?
- Benefits: Increases egg numbers, enhancing embryo options and surrogacy success.
- Challenges: Risks include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS, <5% cases) or multiple gestation if multiple embryos are transferred.
- Emotional impact: The process can be intense, with hormone-driven mood swings, but offers hope for IPs and donors contributing to family-building.
What about legal and financial aspects?
Ovarian stimulation costs $5,000-$10,000 for medications and monitoring, part of IVF ($10,000-$20,000) within surrogacy expenses ($100,000-$200,000). GCAs ($5,000-$10,000) note stimulation plans, upheld in states like California and Illinois, where surrogacy laws support IPs’ rights. Internationally, Ukraine includes stimulation in surrogacy packages, while Australia regulates donor protocols. Disputes — rare with clear contracts — may involve donor health, managed via escrow and legal oversight.
Why does it matter?
Ovarian stimulation fuels gestational surrogacy’s start, creating the embryos that carriers nurture into life, empowering IPs’ dreams. For potential surrogates, understanding this step clarifies the teamwork behind their role, building trust. By explaining its precision, agencies establish authority, guiding clients with science and care through a pivotal surrogacy phase.
Related terms
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
- Gestational Surrogacy
- Gestational Carrier
- Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)
- Egg Donor
Synonyms
- Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation
- Ovulation induction
- Ovarian priming
- Egg stimulation
Ovarian stimulation sparks surrogacy’s beginning, harvesting hope to grow families with purpose and precision.
