Medication Used
Medication used
It’s important to know what medication and possible side effects are used, this is a brief outline of what will be used in the procedure, it’s always best to discuss the medication with your physician, and discuss possible side effects so you know and are prepared should you experience anything untoward.
When instructed to self inject medication, the medical staff will give you full instructions how to do this as well as show and advise on what is most comfortable for you. The injections are usually small needles that are injected into the thigh or abdomen, usually into the fatty tissue.
GNRH AGONIST – Leuprolide Acetate
(Drug names: Lupron)
You will need to inject once a day for approx 12 days, thereafter one injection a day together with gonadotropin therapy, for approx 22 days.
GNH agonist medication such as Lupron, prevents the release of eggs as well as controls some of the female hormone levels. The medication affects the pituitary gland, helps stimulate the follicle hormone, ane lowers the luteinizing hormone, thus achieving a uniform and predictable to the IVF medication and also reduces the possibility of cancellation of the egg donation cycle.
GNRH Antagonist
(Drug names: Ganirelix acetate or Cetrotide)
one injection a day is administered or depending on the doctor one every three days take together with gonadotropin therapy, this is usually added once the donor has been on the gonadotropin therapy for three four to five days, and continued for approx five to six days.
This medication could be used instead of GNRH agonist medication Lupron, it prevents eggs from ovulating during stimulation and also allows for control of the cycle. This medication is a more up to date medicine, and the treatment period is shorter than with Lupron.
Follicle Stimulating Hormones (FSH or Gonadotropins)
(Drug names: Gonal F, Bravelle, Follistim, Memopur, Repronex)
One injection daily for approx ten days
FSH is a natural hormone that a woman’s body produces, this hormone matures the eggs within the ovaries when she is on her reproductive cycle. The eggs in the ovary sit in a sac that is called a follicle. During egg donation treatment, FSH medication is given so that many sacs develop, thus, more eggs. The more follicles in the ovaries the greater the chance of a successful outcome.
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG or “Trigger shot”)
(Drug Names: Ovidrel, Profasi, Pregnyl)
One injection will be administered approximately 34 hours prior to retrieval of eggs
hCG is a pregnancy hormone that the human placenta produces The reason hCG is given prior to egg retrieval is to mature the eggs. Once the follicle are the correct size, then the egg inside needs to mature or ripen administering hCG medication will make this happen. It is important that this medication is administered because the eggs will not be usable for IVF without it.