Synthetic ovulation stimulants are drugs that stimulate ovulation or release of ovum from the ovaries.
The drug in this category has a similar structure to estrogen. It binds to the estrogen receptors so the brain thinks there is a low level of estrogen in the body. Therefore estrogen cannot provide accurate negative feedback to the hypothalamus and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) is released. GnRH activates the pituitary gland to release follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). FSH and LH secretion stimulates growth of ovarian follicles and subsequent release of the egg.
Synthetic ovulation stimulants are used in treating infertility in anovulatory women.