Insemination or artificial insemination is one of the few fertility treatments that can be used without medications. The decision on whether or not to use medications with your insemination can be based on many factors. Ultimately you, your partner, and your practitioners will have to make the decision as to what will work best for your situation.

Your diagnosis is probably the biggest criterion as to whether or not ovulation-inducing medications are used in conjunction with your insemination. If you suffer from undiagnosed infertility it may be advised that you attempt a couple of inseminations, cervical or uterine, without medications. This can save you the expense of the medications and the required monitoring.

After three or four cycles of insemination only, it may be advised that you attempt to combine the insemination with oral medications to help ensure that you are ovulating. Taking medications such as Clomid and Serophene (clomiphene citrate) for a few days during your cycle helps ensure that you are ovulating. The goals of these medications are not to create a huge number of follicles, but rather to produce one really good follicle for release and conception.

If you have tried clomiphene citrate type medications for several cycles unsuccessfully, you may try injectable medications like Follistim, Gonal-F, or Repronex. These medications require more monitoring to ensure that you are not producing a dangerous number of follicles. This protocol is sometimes referred to as “super ovulation,” or “super ov.”