Silvia Azaña, embryologist at inviTRA, explains in this video the reasons why contraceptives are prescribed before in vitro fertilization (IVF):
There are occasions in which the gynecologist prescribes oral birth control pills to the women before beginning ovarian stimulation for an in vitro fertilization cycle or IVF. This usually tends to surprises the woman because an IVF is an assisted reproduction treatment that is performed precisely in order to try to achieve a pregnancy.
Oral contraceptives typically contain estrogen and progesterone, meaning they are combined. Both of these hormones are very important in regulating the woman's menstrual cycle. For this reason, when the oral contraceptives are administered exogenously, the specialist has greater control over it.
Therefore, the gynecologist may decide to prescribe oral contraceptives before an IVF cycle for reasons such as the following:
- To regulate the onset of menration for patients who experience an irregular menstrual cycle.
- To inhibit ovarian function so that the ovaries are at rest at the beginning of ovarian stimulation. For example, in the event that any persistent follicles or follicular cysts are observed, and also in order to avoid synchrony in follicular development during ovarian stimulation, which could affect the results.
- And also in order to facilitate the scheduling of important dates in assisted reproduction treatment for those specific patients who require a much more level of planning.The specialist will assess whether taking oral contraceptives prior to the IVF cycle is the most indicated course of action. Due to this, contraceptives are not prescribed to every woman who is about to begin an IVF cycle, but rather when it is deemed suitable for the patients specific circumstances.
