Ovarian stimulation, the new protocols that improve IVF treatment
Ovarian stimulation is one of the most important steps in In Vitro Fertilization and, fortunately, one of the most evolved in the last decade.
The development of new drugs to recruit follicles and retrieve oocytes, as well as the updating of the employment protocols, have provided safety and quality to IVF treatment. But these are not the only advances that have been made in this procedure. In this post, we will tell you the big steps we have taken in ovarian stimulation.
Prediction of ovarian reserve
"We currently have various ovarian stimulation protocols that can satisfy different women individually. Advances in the prediction of the ovarian reserve by biomarkers have allowed us to know the ovarian response capacity of each patient previously and, from there, to build a personalized stimulation protocol for their needs, in addition to estimating their quantitative response and better delimiting their prognosis", explains Dr. Fabio Cruz, director of the Advanced Course on Ovarian Stimulation and Embryo Transfer that begins this March at IVI Education.
Thanks to scientific studies carried out over recent years, ovarian stimulation has also been better adapted to patients with special conditions, such as those suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome, oncology patients performing fertility preservation, or obese women.
Improved reproductive success
Today, ovarian stimulation is no longer a danger as it was 25 years ago, where hyperstimulation could pose a serious problem for patients and their reproduction project.
"Now we not only know how to precisely stimulate the patient, without taking great risks, but we also have information about the impact of stimulation on endometrial receptivity, which allows us to pay special attention to embryo transfer and preparation of the endometrium, improving the results of reproductive treatment," adds Dr. Cruz.
Ovarian stimulation protocols
We currently have many ovarian stimulation protocols. The important thing is not only to know all of them but also to know which of them best suits each patient.
Among the different options for pituitary suppression, the most widely used today is the protocol with GnRH antagonists, contrary to what happened a decade ago, when the classic protocol with GnRH agonists, also known as the long protocol, was preferred.
The progestagen suppression protocol, in turn, is the most recent and provides interesting advantages such as the use of oral medication and less need for follow-up ultrasounds during the intermediate part of stimulation.
These protocols and many more are the highlights of the Advanced Course on Ovarian Stimulation and Embryo Transfer that we have prepared at IVI Education.
"The objective of the training on ovarian stimulation is to update and prepare professionals who are dedicated to reproductive medicine to face the diversity of patients and situations that we encounter in our daily clinical practice. This course's main mission is to reveal the best strategies in each situation, minimizing complications and optimizing results", explains the course director. "Additionally, an update will be offered on the most appropriate endometrial preparation strategies for embryo transfer," concludes Dr. Cruz.