How to Use Follistim & Timed Intercourse

Why Follistim Can Help

• Each month, the ovaries of most women of reproductive age produce follicle-stimulating hormone as part of the ovulation process. If you have a condition that prevents your body from producing adequate amounts of FSH, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, you have no chance of getting pregnant -- no matter how many times you have sex. Administering Follistim at the beginning of your menstrual cycle sends a signal to your ovaries to start maturing follicles that will contain mature eggs within a few weeks; 90 percent of women taking follicle-stimulating drugs will ovulate, the Reproductive Medicine and Surgery Center of Virginia reports.

How to Take Follistim

• The only way to take Follistim is by injection. Fortunately, you can use a small needle, similar to the needle used to give diabetes medications, to take Follistim. This is known as a subcutaneous injection and is often given in the abdomen. In most cases, your doctor will suggest starting Follistim at the beginning of your menstrual cycle, usually on the second ot third day. You will take Follstim daily -- or possibly twice a day -- until your ovary produces follicles that are ready to release a mature egg. You may take Follistim for between five and 14 days, on average, according to the Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago.

Monitoring and Timing Intercourse

• Because Follistim is a potent drug with the potential to stimulate the ovaries to release more than one egg, your doctor might monitor your progress by doing vaginal ultrasounds every few days. This allows her to see if your ovaries are responding as expected and also to ensure that you aren't making too many follicles. She also might monitor blood levels, watching for a rise in luteinizing hormone. LH rises around 36 to 42 hours before ovulation, indicating that it's time to start having timed intercourse. Having sex several days before ovulation and the day of ovulation means that fresh sperm will be waiting for the released egg. Some physicians recommend having intercourse every other day starting around the ninth day of your cycle.

Potential Risks

• Follstim's ability to stimulate the ovaries could result in hyperstimulation, a potentially serious condition in which your ovaries mature a large number of follicles rather than just one or two. Sudden weight gain, severe abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, headache and bloating signal possible hyperstimulation. Notify your doctor immediately. The use of Follistim could also increase your risk of conceiving multiple fetuses. If your partner has sperm issues, such as a low sperm count, you might not get pregnant with timed intercourse. Instead, your doctor might suggest processing the sperm to concentrate it and then injecting sperm directly into the vagina.