Hormone
therapy

Interfering with the hormone balance can entail side effects and risks, which the attending physician will explain individually before the treatment. In addition, during the treatment period, the doctor will regularly monitor egg maturation and hormone levels in order to avoid overdosing and to minimise the risks.

Possible side effects of the treatment include:

• Hot flushes
• Headaches
• Depressive moods

Hyperstimulation: If the treatment results in the formation of too many egg follicles, the doctor will advise against sexual intercourse, since too many mature eggs increases the risk of a multiple pregnancy (twins, triplets, etc.), which is associated with health hazards. The dose of the hormone preparation can then be reduced for the next treatment cycle.

Hormone treatment is particularly suitable for women with impaired egg maturation and/or absent or impaired ovulation.

In most cases, the cause is an imbalance between the male (androgens) and female (oestrogens) hormones (hyperandrogenaemia).

In affected women, the follicles only mature to a small size (around six to eight millimetres) and ovulation does not occur.

In some women, an increased number of follicles can be found on the ovaries on ultrasound, which means that the monthly maturation of a single follicle may be delayed or prevented.

This disorder is called ‘PCO’ – polycystic ovary. In these cases, hormone therapy can also be used to achieve maturation and subsequent ovulation.

Reduced concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and/or luteinising hormone (LH) are found much more rarely. FSH promotes the growth of follicles in which the egg cells mature.

There is one egg cell in each follicle. LH is primarily responsible for ovulation, i.e. the release of the egg from the follicle into the fallopian tube.

There are also other hormonal causes of a follicle maturation disorder. For example, an increased concentration of the hormone prolactin can also inhibit fertility.

Prolactin promotes the growth of the mammary glands during pregnancy and suppresses ovulation. An increased prolactin concentration before pregnancy can be treated with prolactin-inhibiting medication.

Thyroid hormones should also not be neglected. Normal thyroid levels play an important role in the chances of pregnancy.

Hypothyroidism can be treated by regularly taking thyroid hormone supplements.