Clínica Santa María Centro especializado en Técnicas de Reproducción Humana

The ovulation process provides one ovum (or egg) for fertilization by a spermatozoid in every cycle.

This process requires hormonal balance in the body.

The ovulation process can be interrupted in the following instances

Polycystic ovary syndrome

In this syndrome, which is caused by an excess of insulin, ovulation is blocked due to an increase in the production of androgen (the male hormone) in the ovary.

Besides the ovulation problem, this hormone imbalance causes hirsutism (an excess of bodily hair), acne, obesity and acanthosis nigicans (hyperpigmentation on folds of the skin). The ovaries appear on the ultrasound as being full of small cists and, in general, menstruation is often delayed.

Hyperthyroidism

When the thyroid gland works too hard or very slowly, the metabolism accelerates or slows down causing disruption though out the body. This can also cause problems with ovulation.

Hyperprolactinemia

When levels of the hormone prolactine are high, this can cause a secretion from the breast similar to milk (galactorrhea) that can cause ovulation to be blocked.

Levels of this hormone can rise due to hypophyseal tumors (adenomas), medications or, in some cases, the cause is unknown.

Premature menopause

In some cases, the ovaries prematurely stop working (premature menopause). It is believed that this is caused by antibodies produced by the body itself against the ovaries. The latter reduce in size and no longer produce either hormones or ovule.

Gonadotrophins deficiency

In some cases there can be a deficient production of the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone, which means that the ovaries do not receive the signal to ovulate.