How Long Does It Take to Ovulate After an HCG Injection?
HCG injections are a widely used for enhancing fertility. HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, is a naturally occurring hormone that supports the development of an egg while inside the ovary and triggers the release of the egg when it is ready. Women also produce HCG when they are pregnant and it is the hormone that pregnancy tests check for.
When a woman struggles to become pregnant on her own, HCG injections can help stimulate ovulation. This is a process known as ovulation induction.
What Is Ovulation Induction?
Ovulation induction with HCG can help a woman to ovulate more than once during a single menstrual cycle by stimulating the growth and release of more than one egg. Most often, this treatment is recommended for women who ovulate infrequently or who may not ovulate at all. HCG is simply one option of many -- there are other FDA approved medications used to stimulate ovulation, and it's up to you and your doctor to decide which medicine is most appropriate in your unique case.
When Does Ovulation Occur After an HCG Shot?
After receiving an injection of human chorionic gonadotropin, ovulation can occur between 24-48 hours, with the average time being within 36 hours. Ovulating as early as 24 hours is less likely, however, it can happen and couples should be prepared.
Increasing the Chances of Conception with IUI
To increase the chances of success, fertility specialists will often use IUI, or intrauterine insemination, along with HCG treatment. IUI is a simple process that involves the insertion of treated sperm directly into a woman's uterus to increase the chances that an egg will become fertilized. While some couples prefer to attempt to conceive naturally after an HCG injection, others may want to improve their odds with IUI. If so, a fertility specialist will schedule the intrauterine insemination procedure within the appropriate window after the ovaries have been stimulated with HCG.
When IVF Should Be Considered
HCG injections and IUI are typically less invasive than IVF and may be used as a first choice in fertility treatments. If ovulation induction has not been successful after one or more attempts, IVF may be considered.
Schedule Your Fertility Evaluation Now
If you are struggling to conceive, you're not alone. It may be time to have a fertility evaluation done to determine what may be causing your inability to become pregnant. A fertility evaluation for women and a fertility evaluation for men should be done to rule out or confirm issues one or both partners may be facing.
At New York Reproductive Wellness, we are committed to the compassionate, holistic care of each of our patients. Contact us today for a consultation to discuss your needs at (516) 757-7673.
