Ovarian stimulation for in-vitro fertilization.

In-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer has become an accepted clinical method for the treatment of sterility. Different types of ovarian stimulation have been used successfully. The therapeutic principles behind the stimulation treatment in an IVF programme are the same as those applied in the treatment of normal and hypogonadotrophic ovarian insufficiency. These include clomiphene therapy with subsequent HCG administration, combined clomiphene/HMG administration and stimulation with HMG alone, followed by HCG. A new approach to the stimulation of follicular development and oocyte maturation is the use of pure FSH and GnRH analogues. The principal indications, results, advantages and disadvantages of these different schemes of ovarian stimulation for oocyte retrieval are discussed.