Medications
At Fertility Specialists of Houston, we strive to educate our patients extensively about their particular diagnosis, treatments and medications. We believe that knowledge empowers the patient, allows them to take more control over their fertility, thereby being proactive in their treatment. Below please find a brief description of some of the medications we may prescribe to you.
In order to prepare our patient's body for IVF treatment, we require them to take certain medications to help increase the chance of successful conception. While each patient's medication regiment will be different, the following are the different types of medication we may administer for this process:
A GnRH agonist (Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone agonist) such as Luprin is a synthetic hormone that, when injected, increases the amount of the FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) and LH (Luteinizing Hormone) released by the pituitary gland. This treatment helps our patients ovulate on a more frequent schedule and allows for the release of additional eggs.
Estrogen Antagonists help control the body's hormonal response, which, in turn, affects the development of eggs. This medication helps delay the LH (Luteinizing Hormone) surge that is caused by a series of changes involving two hormones-gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). When GnRH is present, it triggers a dramatic rise, or "surge" in LH levels. However, if an LH surge occurs too early in a cycle, your eggs will be released before they're expected. Antatgonists work by blocking the trigger effect of GnRH. This action stops the premature LH surge in women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation before they begin. In doing so, this allows eggs to reach the level of development needed for fertilization.
Gonadotropins, when used for IVF treatment, can produce several eggs for the procedure. The medication directly affects the ovaries and stimulates follicle development. While it is more common for women undergoing fertility treatments to be prescribed gonadotropins, men also are sometimes prescribed the medications. Men with hormonal imbalances often respond well to the treatment and it is common to use gonadotropins to help men with unexplained, abnormally low sperm counts or those with reduced sperm motility.
hCG (Human chorionic gonadotropin) is a hormone produced in pregnancy, that is made by the embryo soon after conception, and later by the placenta. hCG is also used as a medication in fertility therapy, as it can trigger ovulation less than two-days after the initial injection. Patients who decide to undergo IVF may receive hCG to trigger the ovulation process, but have their eggs retrieved at about 36 hours after injection, a few hours before the eggs actually would be released from the ovary.
If you would like to learn more about the medications, you can visit the pharmaceutical companies websites
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