Induction of Ovulation – Past, Present and Future

Abstract

Attempts to induce ovulation have been made since the early 1920s, but the major breakthrough came in the early 1960s with the introduction of clomiphene citrate and the gonadotropins. Additional progress was made in the early 1970s with the introduction of bromocriptine and in the early 1980s with the introduction of pulsatile GnRH. At the present, ‘pure’ FSH and GnRH agonists are being evaluated as adjuncts to HMG for induction of ovulation. As more insight is gained in the neuroendocrine control of the ovulating cycle, we may soon be able to induce ovulation by direct manipulation of the central nervous system.

Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) in the Mechanism of Human Ovulation and its Clinical Usefulness

“…It increases urinary gonadotropin excretion [60] and plasma levels of LH [61] and FSH [62]. Based on these findings, R. Jewelewicz [64] proposed the concept of the luteinized unruptured follicle (LUF), which secretes progesterone and causes all the progestational changes without ovulation. In 1960 -70's, the only absolute indicators that ovulation occurred were pregnancy and the isolation of an ovum from the genital tract.…”