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Patient Medication Information

City Fertility / Patient Medication Information

AGONIST

Drugs

Synarel (Nasal Spray) or
Lucrin (subcutaneous injection) (Agonists) or
Decapeptyl (Subcutaneous injection)

Actions

  • Acts on the pituitary gland to desensitise (down-regulate) prior to commencing a stimulation cycle.
  • Can also be used to Trigger for the final maturation of oocytes prior to egg collection.
  • Treatment may begin in the early follicular phase (Day 2 of cycle) or the mid-luteal phase (usually Day 21 of the preceding cycle) or to trigger final maturation (end of stimulation).
  • Causes an initial and transient increase in the pituitary hormones (LH and FSH) – leading to a temporary increase in ovarian hormone production.
  • Repeated dosing, leads to a decrease in the secretion of LH and FSH from the pituitary gland – resulting in a reduction in ovarian hormone production. This provides a more controlled situation for stimulating follicle production.
  • Down-regulation of the pituitary can prevent the LH surge –thereby preventing premature ovulation.

Side effects

  • Headaches
  • Hot flushes
  • Mood swings
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Changed in libido

Storage

Synarel: store below 25ºC and away from light.
Lucrin: refrigerate (2-8 degrees) Do not freeze.
Decapeptyl: refrigerate (2-8 degrees) Do not freeze.

FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE (FSH) (Subcutaneous injections)

Drugs

Gonal F or Puregon or Menopur or Bemfola or Rekovelle and Elonva

Actions

Acts directly on the ovaries to stimulate follicular development and hormone production within the ovaries with the aim of collecting multiple mature eggs at egg collection.

Side effects

  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Pelvic pain
  • Pelvic discomfort
  •  Nausea
  • Fatigue
  • Tender breasts
  • Mood swings
  •  Fluid retention
  • Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS)

Storage

Refrigerate (2-8 degrees). Do not freeze.

RECOMBINANT HUMAN LUTEINISING HORMONE (R-HLH) (Subcutaneous injections)

Drugs

Luveris

Actions

Used in conjunction with Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) injections for patients with low levels of luteinising hormone (LH). Helps to increase follicular oestradiol secretion and induce follicular development. May occasionally be used in patients who have had a previous poor response.

Side effects

  • Headaches
  • Pelvic pain
  • Pelvic discomfort
  • Nausea
  • Soreness and redness at injection site
  • Mild or moderate OHSS

Storage

Store below 25 degrees. Protect from light.

RECOMBINANT HUMAN FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE (R-HFSH) AND RECOMBINANT HUMAN LUTEINISING HORMONE (R-HLH) (Subcutaneous injections)

Drugs

Pergoveris

Actions

  • A combination of FSH and LH into 1 injection. Stimulates follicular development and hormone production within the ovaries with the aim of recruiting multiple mature eggs at egg collection.
  • Used for patients with low levels of luteinising hormone (LH). Helps to increase follicular oestradiol secretion and induce follicular development.
  • May occasionally be used in patients who have had a previous poor response.

Side effects

  • Headaches
  • Abdominal tenderness and swelling
  • Breast tenderness
  • Nausea
  • Mood swings
  • Dizziness
  • Fluid retention
  • Tender ovaries
  • OHSS

Storage

Store below 25 degrees. Protect from light.

ANTAGONIST (Subcutaneous injections)

Drugs

Cetrotide  or Orgalutran

Actions

  • Used to prevent premature ovulation by inhibiting pituitary LH and FSH secretion.
  • Must be taken at the same time every day.

Side effects

  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Itchiness
  • Soreness and redness over the injection site.

Storage

  • Cetrotide: store below 30 degrees.
  • Orgalutran: store below 30 degrees.

TRIGGERS

Drugs

Ovidrel or Pregnyl or GnRH Agonist

Actions

Induces the final maturation process of eggs within follicles just prior to ovulation. Also used to support the lining of the uterus after embryo transfer. Commonly known as a “trigger” injection

Side effects

  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Itchiness
  • Soreness and redness over the injection site

Storage

  • Ovidrel: refrigerate (2-8 degrees). Do not freeze.
  • Pregnyl: Refrigerate (2-8 degrees). Do not freeze.

LUTEAL MEDICATIONS

Drugs

Crinone or Oripro or Endometrinor or Utrogestan,

Actions

All contain progesterone to support the lining of the uterus after an embryo transfer in Assisted Reproduction Treatment (e.g. IVF and Frozen Embryo Transfer cycles)

Side effects

  • Uterine cramps
  • Headaches
  • Sleepiness
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Constipation
  • Difficulty passing urine
  • Thrush-like symptoms

Storage

  • Crinone: store below 25 degrees in a cool dry place.
  • Oripro: store below 25 degrees in a coo; dry place.
  • Endomitrin: store below 25 degrees in a cool dry place.
  • Utrogestan: store below 30 degrees in a cool dry place.

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