If a woman has an irregular menstrual cycle, monitoring with ultrasound scans and hormone assessments may help to identify the fertile time of the month and so improve the chances of natural conception. If ovulation is not occurring, then drugs may be administered after the onset of menstruation to stimulate egg production. The simplest treatment is with tablets (Clomiphene and Tamoxifen) given within the first few days of the cycle. The response is monitored by ultrasound scans. These are not always effective and more powerful fertility injections may be necessary to stimulate egg production in the ovaries. With these more potent drugs there is a greater risk of increased egg production and, therefore, the risks of multiple pregnancy are greater. Women receiving fertility injections are monitored by ultrasound scans and hormone assessment.
