Depending on your diagnosis, IVF may recommend that you use fertility drugs alone, or you may use them in conjunction with other treatments such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF).
IVF drugs for women
If you have a very irregular cycle, if ovulation is irregular,
If there is little or no egg production,
If infertility is the result of damage to the pituitary gland (which controls your hormone production).
IVF drugs for men
In some cases, medications may be prescribed for men.
Antibiotics to treat infection or inflammation
Gonadotropins for some rare conditions where no sperm is produced
Retrograde ejaculation.
Commonly used IVF drugs
There are a number of different IVF medications that your doctor may recommend. During an IVF cycle, it is necessary to take certain medications to prepare the body for treatment. The instructions for each medication vary from patient to patient.
GnRH Agonists
Lupron, taken as an injection just under the skin, and Synarel, a nasal spray, allow the body to produce a higher number of eggs during the treatment cycle. They also prevent hormonal fluctuation.
Antagonists
Antagon and Cetrotide are gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists used to prevent premature ovulation. These drugs are administered by injection and the course of treatment usually lasts three or four days.
Gonadotropins
Gonadotropins are taken as subcutaneous injections that stimulate the follicles containing the eggs during the stimulation phase. Gonal F, Bravelle, Follistim, Pergonal, and Repronex are the most commonly used gonadotropins.
HCG
hCGs are taken as an intramuscular injection and are used to induce final maturation changes in the egg and prepare it for retrieval. The most common hCGs are Pregnyl, Profasi, and Novarel.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics administered in pill form are given to the female partner during the stimulation cycle to reduce the low levels of bacteria present in the semen that could compromise sperm performance during the IVF cycle. They are also given to the female partner during egg retrieval to reduce the risk of infection following aspiration of follicles.
Progesterone
Natural Progesterone can be taken as a daily intramuscular injection starting two days after egg retrieval and until the placenta produces sufficient Progesterone. Progesterone can be given as a vaginal gel or vaginal suppository or pill (Prometrium).
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