Ovarian stimulation constitutes one of the pillars of medically assisted conception. It involves administering oral or injectable drugs that promote follicle development and ovulation. Ovarian stimulation can be used to treat a range of conditions, including anovulation due to polycystic ovary syndrome and hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. In addition, in women undergoing in vitro fertilisation, ovarian stimulation is often performed concomitantly with pituitary suppression to prevent untimely ovulation; this is termed controlled ovarian stimulation (COS). This chapter describes the principles underlying ovarian stimulation, the pharmacology of exogenous gonadotrophins, and commonly used stimulation protocols.
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