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Why an Ovulation Trigger Shot Sometimes Fails – Fertility Plus

Fertility Plus/LinkedIn

Apr 15, 2026, 16:38

Why an Ovulation Trigger Shot Sometimes Fails – Fertility Plus

Fertility Plus shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Ever wonder why an ovulation trigger shot sometimes fails? Trigger failure happens in about 3% of IVF cycles and can be even higher in regular ovulation induction. Let’s break down the top 4 reasons!

The follicle was too small! Size is the single most important factor. If a follicle is triggered when it’s under 12 mm, it only has a 6% chance of rupturing and releasing an egg. But if you wait until the follicle grows to 18 to 20 mm, the rupture rate jumps up to 87%! Timing is everything!
It’s missing a key teammate: FSH. The standard hCG trigger shot acts like the hormone LH to tell your body to ovulate. However, a natural ovulation surge also includes a spike in FSH. Without that FSH surge, the follicle wall might not break down properly to let the egg out.
Sneaky Pain Relievers. Did you know that taking NSAIDs (like ibuprofen) is a well-established risk factor for trigger failure? NSAIDs block prostaglandins, which are essential compounds your follicle needs in order to physically rupture.
Stubborn Receptors. Sometimes, genetic variations make your hormone receptors less sensitive to the trigger shot. In other cases, the high dose of hormones from the trigger can actually overwhelm your receptors, causing them to temporarily shut down.

The Good News? There are solutions! Waiting until the follicle is at least 18 to 20 mm before triggering is the easiest fix. Your doctor might also recommend a ‘dual trigger’- combining the standard hCG shot with a GnRH agonist. This mimics that missing FSH surge and drops the trigger failure rate to around 1%!”