Fertility medications are used to stimulate the ovaries to produce more than one viable egg. Different types of injectable fertility medications are used in 2010 to stimulate and suppress the ovaries, as well as to mature the eggs in the ovaries so they can be released or removed from the ovary during an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle.
Follicle Stimulating Hormone Medications
Follistim, produced by Schering-Plough, is a follicle stimulating hormone medication or gonadotropin that stimulates egg production. Follistim is a recombinant medication, follitropin beta, which is synthetically produced in a laboratory. Follistim is injected subcutaneously, under the skin rather than into a muscle, with a half-inch-long needle. Gonal-f, follitropin alpha, produced by EMD Serono, is also a recombinant, subcutaneously injected gonadotropin.
Bravelle is a human derived purified pure FSH product produced by Ferring Pharmaceuticals. Bravelle is usually injected subcutaneously but can also be given intramuscularly, according to the Ferring.
Menotropins
Menotropins are medications that contain equal amounts of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, which also helps stimulate and mature eggs produced in the ovary. Menopur and Repronex, both produced by Ferring, are two menotropins used to stimulate egg production in infertility. Menopur and Repronex are usually given subcutaneously.
Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Agonists/Antagonists
GnRH agonists and antagonists are two different types of drugs given to suppress premature ovulation during in vitro fertilization cycles, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center explains. Leuprolide acetate, sold as Lupron by Abbott Laboratories, is a GnRH agonist, which means it suppresses production of FSH and LH by the pituitary. Ganirelix acetate, also known as Antagon, made by Schering Plough and Cetrotide, produced by EMD Serono, are GnRH antagonists, which also suppress FSH and LH production, but act much more quickly, the InfertilitySpecialist website states. GnRH agonists and antagonists are given subcutaneously.
Human Chorionic Gonadotropins
HCG is usually used to stimulate egg maturation and release in patients undergoing fertility treatments. HCG is derived from human sources. Brands of human hCG include Novarel, manufactured by Ferring, Pregnyl, manufactured by Schering-Plough, and Profasi, manufactured by EMD Serono. HCG is usually given intramuscularly.
References
- Univeristy of Rochester Medical Center: Strong Fertility; Fertility Medications
- Mayo Clinic:Follicle Stimulating Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone
- Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center: Follicle Stimulating Hormone
- Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center: Antagon
- InfertilitySpecialist.com: Fertility Drugs
