27 Apr Ovulation: What is it, How Long Does it Last and When to Use Ovulation Induction Treatment
Ovulation is extremely critical when it comes to conceiving — and understanding more about ovulation helps in keeping your reproductive health in order.
To achieve pregnancy, sperm must meet with and fertilize an egg within around 24 hours of ovulation — which is when a woman’s body releases an egg from the ovary.
For this process to result in pregnancy, the woman needs to ovulate a healthy egg and the man must have healthy sperm that can reach the egg in the fallopian tube where fertilization takes place.
So, what exactly is ovulation? Let’s take a closer look.
Ovulation: What is it?
Ovulation is a part of a woman’s menstrual cycle. It occurs when an egg is released from the ovary.
When the egg is released, it may or may not be fertilized by sperm. If fertilized, the egg, now embryos may travel to the uterus and implant to develop into a pregnancy. If left unfertilized, the egg disintegrates and the uterine lining is shed — producing a menstrual period.
Understanding how long ovulation takes place can help you achieve pregnancy. It can also help you diagnose reproductive conditions.
How Long Does Ovulation Last?
Typically, ovulation occurs for around 24 hours. The body triggers the release of an egg from the ovaries. Once that egg starts its journey towards the uterus, it only stays viable for one day.
However, since sperm can live in the uterus and fallopian tubes for up to 6 days — there are around six days during which a couple can become pregnant.
What is Ovulation Induction Treatment for Infertility?
Ovulation induction is the use of medications — often called fertility medications, to stimulate the ovaries to produce and release a mature egg for possible fertilization.
Primarily Fertility Specialists Medical Group (FSMG) utilizes ovulation induction in the following cases:
- Those who do not ovulate or have infrequent or irregular ovulation that limits opportunities for pregnancy.
- Individuals with ovulation difficulties who might need additional eggs to increase the chance of conception or conception through IUI.
- Those with PCOS.
- Patients with a diagnosis of unexplained infertility, which means we can’t pinpoint a cause for infertility.
When ovulation difficulties prevent spontaneous pregnancy, FSMG can perform ovulation induction, which uses medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce and release mature eggs for fertilization.
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, for 25 percent of women who experience infertility, the cause is a problem with ovulation or the release of a mature egg every month.
The production of multiple eggs increases the number of chances for fertilization in treatments such as timed intercourse and attaining pregnancy through intrauterine insemination (IUI).