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Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is a pituitary hormone that directs egg development. FSH is a protein hormone that has to be taken by injection. It can be used for either ovulation induction (causing a women who does not ovulate to ovulate) or controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (causing a woman who ovulates to ovulate several eggs). FSH directly stimulates the ovaries to produce eggs.

For COH, it is most common to begin your FSH injections on the 2nd, 3rd or 4th day of your cycle.

In order to assess your response to FSH, you will be instructed to come to the office for monitoring on your 4th or 5th day of injections. Based upon the monitoring findings, your dose may be adjusted and you will be instructed as to your next step(s).

Most commonly, FSH is injected daily for 6-10 days and monitoring will occur on 3-5 occasions. Once the follicles appear mature, you will be given instructions to take an hCG injection at a specific time. The hCG causes the egg to undergo its final maturation and ovulate. Following the hCG injection you stop taking the FSH and you will undergo an artificial insemination as instructed.

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