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Details about the injectable medications for in vitro fertilization

In order to get sufficient eggs for the in vitro fertilization process, the woman is stimulated with injected medications to develop multiple egg development. The injections are usually done by the woman, or by her husband. The technique is easy to learn.

Usually, 2 different injectable medications are used in IVF cycles. One of these can be replaced in some cases by a nasal spray.

The first medication starts on about day 21 of the woman's cycle and is called Lupron. The purpose of this medicine is to "down-regulate" the pituitary gland with regard to production of FSH and LH. This allows us to have more complete control of the subsequent stimulation of the ovaries. This medicine is given as a subcutaneous injection with a small needle and is usually given into the thigh. These injections continue for about 14-25 days.

The woman will get her period at the normal time (day 28, or whatever, of her cycle).

The next medication begins a few days after her period starts. This is the FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) that will stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. There are several name brands available - some can be given as subcutaneous injections, while others must be given as intramuscular injections. Examples are Gonal-F, Follistim, Humegon, Repronex and Fertinex.

Once the FSH injections have begun, blood and ultrasound testing is done about every 1-3 days to monitor the development of the follicles (egg-containing structures) in the ovaries.

Ultrasound of multiple follicles (3 black circles) in a stimulated ovary

When the woman's follicles are mature, an egg aspiration procedure is performed to remove the eggs from her ovaries.