Abstract
Background: Ovulation induction involves using medications to stimulate ovulation. This process typically aims to promote the growth of ovarian follicles to address conditions such as anovulation. The drugs most frequently used for this purpose include gonadotropins, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), luteinizing hormone (LH), human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG), clomiphene citrate (CC), aromatase inhibitors such as letrozole, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Additionally, other drugs like gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs, insulin-sensitizing agents, and GnRH are also employed in ovulation induction for their specific benefits. These treatments are known to reduce the need for gonadotropins, increase the number of preovulatory follicles, and reduce endometrial thickness, all while maintaining a neutral impact on pregnancy rate.
Methods: In this review article, we gathered comprehensive information about the aforementioned medications and their mechanism of action from 2010 to 2024, utilizing Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science databases.
Results: We concluded that FSH, hMG, hCG, and dopamine agonists are the most applicable medications and are more frequently prescribed in clinics. Recombinant drugs are also more cost-effective on the market.
Conclusion: Although the existing research provides generally comforting results, there remains a need for further studies to explore potential carcinogenic effects associated with drugs that stimulate ovulation.