The use of medication to trigger the development and release of an egg or eggs from the follicles in the ovaries is called ovulation induction.

Fertility medications allow women to safely produce multiple eggs during a single cycle. Production of more than one egg increases the chance for a successful cycle by increasing the odds of healthy fertilization and implantation. These medications are usually used in conjunction with other treatments such as intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is a procedure in which sperm that has been washed and prepared is inserted into the woman’s uterus through a catheter. This procedure allows the sperm to pass directly into the fallopian tubes where fertilization normally occurs.
Performed at the time of ovulation, IUI increases the likelihood of fertilization and pregnancy. Vaginal ultrasound and/or a urine ovulation detection kit are used to ensure that the procedure is conducted at the right time. IUI is recommended for patients who have been diagnosed with:

•  Abnormal or inhospitable cervical mucus 
• Unexplained infertility 
• Male factor infertility