hyperstimulation

noun

hy·​per·​stim·​u·​la·​tion ˌhī-pər-ˌstim-yə-ˈlā-shən 

variants or hyper-stimulation

: excessive or extreme stimulation : the act or process of excessively stimulating something or someone

The donors were fertile women who underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and … ultrasound-directed aspiration of oocytes for the sole purpose of donation.

—Mark V. Sauer et al.

hyperstimulate

ˌhī-pər-ˈstim-yə-ˌlāt 

transitive verb

or hyper-stimulate

hyperstimulated or hyper-stimulated; hyperstimulating or hyper-stimulating

… the estrogen does indeed hyperstimulate the ovaries, sometimes causing the egg follicles to enlarge to almost cyst-like proportions.

—Natalie Angier

hyperstimulating adjective

or hyper-stimulating

Several grown-ups said their children were at first overwhelmed by the party's hyperstimulating environment.

—Cynthia Rupe

Examples of hyperstimulation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In most cases, hyperstimulation causes sluggishness, nausea, bloating and general discomfort for a week or so after retrieval. —Hannah Jackson, ELLE, 8 Dec. 2022

Albeit rare, some more severe potential concerns include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and ovarian torsion (when an ovary twists on itself). —Kristine Thomason, Women's Health, 28 Apr. 2023

It can be used to prevent bleeding between periods and to control hyperstimulation of the ovaries during in-vitro fertilization, the society said in a statement. —Brenda Goodman, CNN, 11 Apr. 2023

There have been reported cases of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (which can be life threatening), ovarian torsion (as in Maia's case), blood clots, development of long-term health problems, infertility, and, according to some researchers, even cancer. —Andrea Stanley, Redbook, 19 Oct. 2017

Prior to the introduction of Lupron, patients were triggered with an injection of human chorionic gonadotropin, which carried a risk of hyperstimulation. —Hannah Jackson, ELLE, 8 Dec. 2022

The biggest risk is perhaps ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which occurs in about 5% of IVF and egg freezing cycles. —Courtney Vinopal, Quartz, 8 Feb. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

hyperstimulation

noun

hy·​per·​stim·​u·​la·​tion -ˌstim-yə-ˈlā-shən 

: excessive or increased stimulation

The donors were fertile women who underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation …

—Mark V. Sauer et al., The New England Journal of Medicine

hyperstimulate

-ˈstim-yə-ˌlāt 

verb

hyperstimulated; hyperstimulating

… the estrogen does indeed hyperstimulate the ovaries, sometimes causing the egg follicles to enlarge to almost cyst-like proportions.

—Natalie Angier, The New York Times