Fertility Medications | Advanced Fertility Care

Here we share a list of common fertility medications self-administered during your IVF cycle. You can also watch teaching videos on injection protocols.

Fertility Medications

For helpful instructions for the below fertility medications, please utilize these instruction videos from our partners ReUnite.

<a class="button text-color-white" href="https://reuniterx.com/fertility-education/fertility-drug-tutorials">English</a> <a class="button text-color-white" href="https://www.youtube.com/@ReUniteRx/search?query=spanish">Spanish</a>

Clomiphene Citrate (Clomid, Serophene)

An oral ovulation inducing medication that works as an estrogen antagonist competing with estrogen receptors both in the pituitary and on occasion at the uterine level.

Lupron (GnRH agonist)

An agonist that stops your pituitary gland’s production of FSH and LH. It is taken as a daily subcutaneous (under the skin) injection which permits the other stimulation medications to work more predictably and efficiently in order to produce higher number and quality of eggs during a given treatment cycle. Its suppression ability also prevents spontaneous release of eggs at mid-cycle and prevents cycle cancellation.

Gonal F, Follistim, Bravelle, Fertinex

Highly purified forms of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) made by recombinant DNA technology which are taken subcutaneously. They function as potent stimulators of ovarian follicular development. Gonal F is manufactured by Serono Inc and comes in ampules (75IU) and multi-dose (1200 IU) vials. Follistim is manufactured by Organon, Inc and comes in vials (75IU) and dial-up pen. Bravelle is manufactured by Ferring, Inc. and comes in vials (75 IU FSH, 1.0 IU LH). Fertinex is manufactured by Serono, Inc and is almost pure FSH (75 IU FSH,

Repronex

Highly purified preparation of FSH and luteinizing hormone (LH) in equal portions (75 IU of each) which is taken subcutaneously. Manufactured by Ferring, Inc.

hCG (Pregnyl, Profasi, Novarel, Ovidrel)

Highly purified form of human chorionic gonadotropin which can be taken subcutaneously or intramuscularly. This medication is used to mimic the mid-cycle hormonal surge of LH which induces the final egg maturation and ovulation in natural or IUI cycles, or for IVF, in preparation for retrieval. Profasi is manufactured by Serono, Inc, Pregnyl by Organon, Inc, and Novarel by Ferring, Inc. Ovidrel is hCG made by recombinant DNA technology and is manufactured by Serono, Inc. IMPORTANT: After injecting this medication, home pregnancy tests will remain positive for 10-12 days after the injection regardless of whether you are or are not pregnant.

Doxycycline

Antibiotic used to decrease chance of infection following aspiration of the follicles at the time of egg retrieval.

Medrol

An oral steroid which may be given to temporarily suppress immune function during the interval following retrieval and transfer, up to the time of implantation.

Progesterone

For the purposes of IVF, natural progesterone is normally taken as daily intramuscular injections following the egg retrieval and continued until approximately 10-12 weeks of pregnancy when the placenta is making adequate amounts of progesterone. Depending on the situation, progesterone may also be prescribed in the form of vaginal suppositories, vaginal gel (Crinone) or vaginal pills (Prometrium).

Injection Teaching Videos

For AFC-specific instructions, we've included some helpful instruction videos below.

For more fertility medication instructions, please utilize our partner ReUnite's medication instruction videos.

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IVF Antagonist Protocol

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IVF Microdose Lupron Flare Protocol

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IVF Microdose Lupron Flare Protocol (LUPRON ONLY)

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FET Progesterone Protocol

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If you are not mixing the medications, or want to see how one medicine is done individually, there are high quality injection-teaching videos from Freedom Pharmacy that we recommend you watch. You will find step by step video instruction on Lupron, Follistim, Gonal-F, Progesterone and many more. Click below to be taken to Freedom Phramacy’s teaching videos in English or Spanish.

Fertility Medications | Advanced Fertility Care