There are two categories of fertility drugs available:

You will be instructed by the IVF nurse at the clinic that you are cycling at on how to administer the medications correctly. You are required to self inject the prescribed medications until the time of the egg retrieval. Lupron or Ganirelix Acetate to quiet your hormones causing suppression to avoid premature ovulation. Follistim, Menopur, Bravelle or Gonal-F to stimulate your ovaries to produce eggs. HCG 10,000 units, Ovidrel 250 mcg or Lupron trigger dose for the final maturation process of the eggs before retrieval.

Birth Control

If a donor is already on birth control, usually the IVF clinic will try and keep the donor on the same pill unless it is not an approved birth control for this procedure. If a donor is not on birth control, they will be put on it for a period of time. For more information on the side effect, etc. of your birth control, please ask your OB/GYN or read the insert offered to you by the pharmacy.

Lupron (Leuprolide Acetate)  GnRH agonists

This medication is used to turn off your body’s own natural stimulation to your ovaries. Lupron temporarily turns off your brain’s natural release of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinzing hormone (LH), inducing a medical menopause. This allows much better “fine-tuning” of your ovaries during the stimulation phase.  It does this by affecting the pituitary gland. This medication is used in a way to help your doctor establish a baseline level or in other words a starting point. This is the first medication given to the donor other than Birth Control. Lupron is administered by subcutaneous (SQ) injection, meaning a small needle is inserted under the skin.

Possible Side Effects (no long-term side effects have been reported)

• Moodiness/Irritability
• Headache
• Hot Flashes
• Vaginal dryness
• Insomnia
• Local irritation at the site of the injection.

None of these are serious and will go away when Lupron is discontinued.

Follicle Stimulating Hormones (FSH or Gonadotropins)

The most commonly used FSH is Bravelle, Follistim, Gonal-F.

Other commonly prescribed Human Menopausal Gonadotropins or hMG are Menopur and Repronex

This medication is given by injection to increase the development of ovarian follicles. FSH is what helps the follicles to grow.

Possible Side Effects (no long-term side effects have been reported)

• Headache
• Moodiness
• Fatigue
• Bloating
• Ovarian Hyperstimulation Sydrome is rather rare. Severe OHSS is reported in 1-3% of IVF cases. When this happens the body has over-responded to the FSH and the ovaries become excessively enlarged. This can be uncomfortable so donors are closely monitored to try and avoid this. Treatment for this condition may include hospitalization and a minor procedure.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG or “Trigger shot”)

hCG is produced by the human placenta. This shot is given to the donor 36 hours prior to the egg donation retrieval. The “trigger shot” helps the maturation of the follicles. It is critical that the egg donor takes this shot at the exact time prescribed to her by the doctor.

Possible Side Effects (no long-term side effects have been reported)

• Headache
• Moodiness
• Fatigue
• Bloating
• breast sensitivity
• increased clear vaginal discharge from the cervix
• you might feel more emotional than usual
• Mild weight gain from fluid. This is only temporary so don’t worry!