Using Injectable Fertility Medications

What is an Injectable Fertility Medication?

It is exactly what it sounds like. It is a medication that you inject, usually Subcutaneous or SubQ (just under the skin), using a needle, directly in the body to help stimulate follicle growth.

For the purposes of this article I am going to talk about the medication we were prescribed called Menopur. Menopur is a type of Follicle Stimulating Hormone or FSH which when injected properly helps the female produce more follicles than she normally would without an injection.

How does it work?

During a normal menstrual cycle the Pituitary Gland releases FSH which helps produce estrogen and follicle stimulation. Usually just one follicle is released per cycle and goes through the normal process and if not fertilized the egg is eventually expelled by the uterus during menstruation. During a normal cycle the estrogen that was produced tells the Pituitary Gland to turn itself off, limiting the amount of FSH which is released in the body, thus, limiting follicle stimulation.

Using an Injectable medication such as Menopur actually multiplies that process of stimulating follicle growth. Now the FSH is encouraging more follicles to develop which in turn produces more eggs for ovulation.

How is it used?

Doctors will prescribe different methods of treatment with Menopur. You must discuss these methods with your fertility specialist. But for this article I am going to tell you what we were told to do, to use this particular FSH, Menopur, in our fertility treatment.

First my partner took the normal fertility medication, Femara, CD3 - CD7 of her cycle. On CD8 we were told to begin her injections of Menopur.

We were prescribed six 75U vials of Menopur. We were told to mix 1cc of saline into 2 vials and inject that on CD8, to do the same on CD9, and then mix 1cc of saline into 1 vial, inject that on CD10 and do the same on CD11. So, all six vials were used at different strengths over a four-day period of time.

Some doctors start their patients on CD3 and go several days. Each doctor is different because each patient is different and may experience the medication dosages differently.

Because this procedure is easily taught it can be done in the comfort of your home with your partner participating.

What are the side effects?

The major side effect is the increase chances of having multiple births. Other symptoms are bloating, cramping, retaining fluid, tender breast, headaches, nausea which leads to vomiting,

Because you are over-stimulating follicle production there is usually an enlargement of the ovaries.

What are the increased chances of pregnancy with FSH's like Menopur?

Usually with this treatment your chances of pregnancy increase 20-25%. It might not seem like a lot but you have to remember it's the exact same chance as a couple in their mid 20's that have sex during ovulation. The chances of pregnancy increase if you produce more than 5 follicles per cycle. So the purpose of this medication is to increase follicle production, thus increasing your chances of a successful insemination and eventually a successful pregnancy.

What is the cost of using Menopur?

Cost varies by what is prescribed by your doctor and how much your insurance will cover. Usually it will cost you around $50 - $150 per vial of this particular medication. Our cost was $300 total, about $50 per vial x 6 vials. That was after insurance covered it at 50%.

It is up to each individual couple to decide your finances and if you can afford to do this type of treatment. We only decided to use it this month because we skipped our Fertility treatment last month. It is very expensive and not something I would incorporate into our Fertility treatments every month.