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Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

Roxanne Dryden-Edwards, MD

Roxanne Dryden-Edwards, MD

Dr. Roxanne Dryden-Edwards is an adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist. She is a former Chair of the Committee on Developmental Disabilities for the American Psychiatric Association, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, and Medical Director of the National Center for Children and Families in Bethesda, Maryland.

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A number of screening tests are performed prior to beginning an IVF cycle. Tests typically include imaging studies such as a transvaginal ultrasound of the ovaries and uterus. In some cases, oral contraceptive pills are administered in the cycle prior to the treatment cycle. Sometimes another medication, leuprolide (Lupron) is also given during this phase, depending upon the protocol used. It may also be necessary to carry out further imaging studies of the uterus, such as a hysteroscopy.

When the treatment cycle begins, medications known as gonadotrophins are given daily by injection to promote maturation of ovarian follicles containing eggs. The woman is taught to administer the injections at home. Blood tests are carried out to measure hormone levels. While the goal is to stimulate production of multiple follicles, the actual number of developing follicles varies widely. Some women may produce 20 or more follicles, while others produce only two to three per cycle. During this so-called stimulation phase, transvaginal ultrasounds are performed frequently to assess maturation of the follicles and are performed daily toward the end of the stimulation phase.

When, according to the ultrasound results, the follicles are mature, the woman administers an injection of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). It is critical for the success of the procedure to take this injection at precisely the time that you are instructed to do so. This is the final step in the maturation process for the follicles.

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Birth Control Hormonal Methods "The pill" was introduced in the United States in 1962 and signaled a new era for women and their ability to control their fertility.learn more >>

Infertility Infertility affects about 6.1 million people in the United States, about 10% of men and women of reproductive age. A fertility specialist is usually an obstetri...learn more >>

Pregnancy Pregnancy occurs when an egg is fertilized by a sperm, grows inside a woman's uterus (womb), and develops into a baby. In humans, this process takes about 280 d...learn more >>

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