Human Fertility

Ovarian stimulation in IVF

Ovarian stimulation in in vitro fertilization (IVF) remains the first and most crucial step in the treatment. Ovarian stimulation influences the oocyte yield, which is one of the key prognostic factors for IVF success. While ovarian stimulation aims to obtain an optimal number of oocytes to maximize the IVF success, on the other hand, avoidance of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is also important from a safety perspective.  Pre-treatment interventions, different suppression protocols, starting dose of gonadotrophins, type of gonadotrophin, and use of different ovulation triggers influence the quality of ovarian stimulation and ultimately affect the IVF outcomes.

There are many different pre-IVF interventions, IVF protocols, and various stimulation strategies that have been rapidly introduced in clinical practice over the past two decades. While some protocols are safer in a certain subset of women undergoing IVF (e.g, antagonist protocol in women at risk of hyper response), there is no clarity on which protocol or treatment strategy works well in other subsets of women, such as the population at risk of poor response or women with endometriosis. More evidence must be generated by well-planned studies in different populations to help clinicians decide on optimal treatment strategies that are safe and effective for women undergoing IVF.

The current collection seeks to expand knowledge of different ovarian stimulation strategies being used in contemporary IVF practice. Studies focusing on different pre-IVF treatment strategies, newer IVF protocols, or providing newer insights into ovarian stimulation are welcome.

Original studies, systematic reviews, and commentaries are welcome.

All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo a full peer-review; the Guest Advisor for this Collection will not be handling the manuscripts.  

Please review the journal scope and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript.  

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is June 30th, 2026. 

Please contact Menghan Li at [email protected] with any queries and discount codes regarding this Article Collection. 

Please be sure to select the appropriate Article Collection from the drop-down menu in the submission system.