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Fertility Treatments

Fertility Medication Information

If your fertility specialist thinks that you or your partner are not ovulating regularly, ovulating early, or are late in your cycle, you are not alone.

An estimated 25% of all women experiencing infertility have problems with ovulation. Your fertility doctor may recommend a fertility medication such as hormone therapy to help.

A woman usually receives hormone therapy while she undergoes either ovulation induction (OI) or assisted reproductive technologies (ART) treatments.

Hormone therapies are relatively common fertility medications: the type of medicine used depends upon which phase of the infertility treatment cycle you are in.

  • During the follicular phase, Gonal-f® (follitropin alfa for injection), a follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), may be prescribed to help stimulate the development of the follicles and eggs. Around the 11th day, treatment with Gonal-f® is stopped and the woman may receive a single injection of Ovidrel® PreFilled Syringe (choriogonadotropin alfa injection).
  • Ovidrel® PreFilled Syringe mimics the surge of luteinizing hormone (LH), which triggers the final step in the follicular phase. The hormone in Ovidrel® PreFilled Syringe causes the final maturation of the eggs and their release from the ovaries.
  • Throughout the cycle, a woman's body releases a hormone called estradiol. If the level of estradiol gets too high too early, it can trigger a premature surge of LH that leads to early ovulation. Cetrotide® (cetrorelix acetate for injection) may be used in controlled ovarian stimulation to delay this surge until the developing follicles are ready.

You and your partner can keep up to date to learn more about fertility and exploring treatment savings.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPER USE AND RISKS OF GONAL-F® (follitropin alfa for injection):

What are the uses of Gonal-f® (follitropin alfa for injection), Gonal-f® RFF*(follitropin alfa for injection), and Gonal-f® RFF* Pen (follitropin alfa injection)?

Gonal-f® Multi-Dose, Gonal-f® RFF, and Gonal-f® RFF Pen are 3 products that contain follitropin alfa, which is similar to the human hormone follicle-stimulating hormone, referred to as FSH. FSH belongs to a group of human reproductive hormones.

Gonal-f® Multi-Dose, Gonal-f® RFF, and Gonal-f® RFF Pen are used in certain infertile women to help with ovulation (production and release of a mature egg) and pregnancy. Gonal-f® will not help women whose ovaries no longer work because of a condition called Primary Ovarian Failure. Gonal-f® may also be used in women who are in an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) program such as in vitro fertilization to help their ovaries make more eggs.

Gonal-f® Multi-Dose can also be prescribed to increase sperm production in men with a rare condition that affects sperm production.

All 3 products should be prescribed only by doctors specializing in infertility problems and their treatment.

Who should not use Gonal-f®, Gonal-f® RFF, and Gonal-f® RFF Pen?

Gonal-f® Multi-Dose, Gonal-f® RFF, and Gonal-f® RFF Pen should not be used in patients who are pregnant or think they might be pregnant, in patients with primary ovarian failure (the ovaries no longer produce eggs), or in patients with allergies to recombinant human FSH products or any other ingredients in the medication.

Patients with cancer of the sex organs or brain, or with uncontrolled thyroid or adrenal disease, should not use Gonal-f® Multi-Dose, Gonal-f® RFF, or Gonal-f® RFF Pen. Women with a history of abnormal bleeding from the uterus or vagina or with swollen, enlarged, or painful ovaries should speak to their doctor before starting treatment.

What are the possible side effects of Gonal-f®, Gonal-f® RFF, and Gonal-f® RFF Pen?

The lowest dose expected to achieve the desired results should be used. A doctor should monitor a woman’s response often to avoid overdose, which can lead to serious side effects, including blood clots.

Women should contact their doctor if severe pain or bloating in the stomach or pelvic area, severe upset stomach, vomiting, or weight gain are experienced during treatment. These could be signs of a rare but serious condition known as Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome, or OHSS, which can result in hospitalization.

Use of Gonal-f® Multi-Dose, Gonal-f® RFF, or Gonal-f® RFF Pen by a woman can be associated with fertilization of more than 1 egg. This can lead to complications for the woman and the birth of 2 or more babies.

The most common side effects reported by women were headache, ovarian cysts, upset stomach, and sinus infection. The most common side effects reported by men taking Gonal-f® Multi-Dose were skin pimples, breast pain and growth, and tiredness. Injections may cause some discomfort.

*RFF, Revised Formulation Female

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPER USE AND RISKS OF OVIDREL® PREFILLED SYRINGE (choriogonadotropin alfa injection):

What are the uses of Ovidrel® PreFilled Syringe (choriogonadotropin alfa injection)?

Ovidrel® PreFilled Syringe contains recombinant human choriogonadotropin alfa (hCG), an injectable hormone. This is the hormone that causes your eggs to finish maturing and be released. You may be given Ovidrel® PreFilled Syringe to complete this final stage of your cycle. Doctors specializing in infertility or reproductive health prescribe Ovidrel® PreFilled Syringe to those women trying to have a child but for a variety of reasons need medical assistance. After a thorough medical exam to determine your specific medical condition, your doctor may prescribe Ovidrel® PreFilled Syringe because you require hormone replacement or supplementation as part of your treatment program. Ovidrel® PreFilled Syringe may be one of several drugs prescribed to a patient as part of a treatment program.

Who should not use Ovidrel® PreFilled Syringe?

Ovidrel® PreFilled Syringe should not be used in patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding, in patients with primary ovarian failure (the ovaries no longer produce eggs), or in patients with allergies to hCG or any other ingredients in the medication.

Patients with cancer of the sex organs or brain, or with uncontrolled thyroid or adrenal disease, should not use Ovidrel® PreFilled Syringe. Women with a history of abnormal bleeding from the uterus or vagina or with swollen, enlarged, or painful ovaries should speak to their doctor before starting treatment.

In infertile women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and ovulation induction (OI), Ovidrel® PreFilled Syringe should not be administered until adequate follicular development is indicated by serum estradiol and vaginal ultrasonography.

Ovidrel® PreFilled Syringe administration should be withheld in situations where there is an excessive ovarian response, as evidenced by multiple follicular development, clinically significant ovarian enlargement or excessive estradiol production.

What are the possible side effects of Ovidrel® PreFilled Syringe?

Your doctor should review with you the risks and benefits of using Ovidrel® PreFilled Syringe. As with any medication, report any and all side effects, symptoms, or physical changes to your doctor.

Ovidrel® PreFilled Syringe can cause serious side effects including ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and lung and blood vessel problems. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience severe pain or bloating in the stomach or pelvic area, severe upset stomach, vomiting, or weight gain.

Use of fertility drugs can be associated with fertilization of more than one egg. This can lead to complications for the mother and the birth of two or more babies.

The most common side effects in women using Ovidrel® PreFilled Syringe include abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Needle injections may cause some discomfort.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPER USE AND RISKS OF CETROTIDE®(cetrorelix acetate for injection):

What are the uses of Cetrotide® (cetrorelix acetate for injection)?

Cetrotide® blocks the effects of a natural hormone, called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). GnRH controls the secretion of another hormone, called luteinizing hormone (LH), which induces ovulation during the menstrual cycle.

During hormone treatment for ovarian stimulation, premature ovulation may lead to eggs that are not suitable for fertilization. Cetrotide® blocks such undesirable premature ovulation.

Who should not use Cetrotide®?

Cetrotide® should not be used in patients who are pregnant, think they might be pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Cetrotide® should not be used in patients with kidney disease.

Patients that are allergic to cetrorelix acetate, mannitol, or exogenous peptide hormones (medicines similar to Cetrotide®) should not use Cetrotide®. Consult your doctor before taking Cetrotide® if you have had severe allergic reactions.

What are the possible side effects of Cetrotide®?

Your doctor should review with you the risks and benefits of using Cetrotide®. As with any medication, report any and all side effects, symptoms, or physical changes to your doctor.

Mild and short-lasting reactions may occur at the injection site like reddening, itching, and swelling. Nausea and headache have also been reported.

Call your doctor if you have any other side effect or if you are unsure about the effect of this medicine.

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