IVF medications & injections

There are a number of medications and injections to support or enable IVF or insemination. These are used, for example, to promote follicle production and maturation and to trigger ovulation. Here you will find an overview of the common IVF medications.

What medicines are used in IVF/insemination?

• Medicines to stimulate (promote egg maturation).

• Medicines to inhibit ovulation

• Medicines to induce ovulation

• Progesterone to promote implantation

• Supportive medication, e.g. for blood thinning

Stimulation treatment with medication

Hormone therapy can be given with stimulation of the pituitary gland with clomiphene tablets, or with direct stimulation of follicle maturation in the ovary with FSH injections.

The aim of this treatment is to develop follicles and achieve ovulation.

A vaginal ultrasound is done beforehand to obtain the most essential information to guide the hormone stimulation. In this way, for example, cysts can be ruled out.

Examples of IVF meds:

Clomifen 

Clomifen increases distribution of the gonadotropin detachment hormone in the pituitary gland. This leads to an increase of FSH – the Follicle Stimulating Hormone. FSH stimulates the oocyte's growth in the ovary. In some isolated cases, there have been side effects including hot flushes and sweating. One of the drug's biggest disadvantages is that the uterine mucosa doesn't develop as well as one would desire. TFP only uses Clomifen in a few isolated cases.

Merional, Fostimon, Menopur, Menogon HP (all human menopausegonadotropin - hMG)

Precursor of the genetically produced FSH, hMG is a combination of urinary FSH and urinary LH. hMG was the first gonadotropin preparation used to stimulate the ovaries. It is still used because it is comparatively cheap and the results from using this drug are excellent.

Enantone gyn depot injections, Zoladex injections, Decapeptyl depot injections, Decapeptyl 0.1 (all GnRH agonists for down regulations)

These drugs are used to prevent ovulation. Ovulation needs to be prevented because the eggs are to be extracted from the oocytes (puncture) during IVF treatment.

Orgalutran and Cetrotide (both GnRH antagonists)

This form of "down regulation" is used in our clinic in 90% of our patients. When using these drugs, we also use drugs to block the pituitary gland's function immediately.

Gonal F, Puregon (both genetically-produced FSH), Merck Gonal Pen

Biotechnologically extracted FSH, just like the FSH produced by the pituitary glands, causes a stimulation of the ovaries and leads to increased egg maturation. The ovaries' response to this hormone depends on the dosage and varies from case to case.

Progesterone vaginal suppositories, Utrogestan (both progesterone)

Progesterone and other methods used to assist the luteal phase are used after the puncture of the ovaries. They ensure that a fertilised egg has the optimal conditions to allow a pregnancy to persist. They need to be inserted into the vagina on the evening of the puncture day. From the following day, they should be inserted according to your personal stimulation timetable (until the eighth pregnancy week).

Anti-coagulants (e.g. aspirin, Lovenox) 

Anti-coagulants are used following the puncture day according to your personal stimulation timetable (until the eighth pregnancy week).

Folic acid (e.g. Folsan)

At least 0.4mg should be taken daily beginning at least one week before the commencement of stimulation.

Additional drugs such as Aprednisolon and Glucophage should only be taken on the advice of the doctor at the fertility clinic. For further in-depth advice about which IVF medications you may need, contact us for an appointment.