IVF and IUI: Conventional Medications

The information can be found in WebMed or other online fertility websites.

During the reproductive years, the pituitary gland in the brain generates hormones (follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH] and luteinizing hormone [LH]) that cause a new egg to mature and be released from its ovarian follicle each month. As the follicle develops, it produces the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone, which thicken the lining of the uterus. Progesterone levels rise in the second half of the menstrual cycle, and following the release of the egg (ovulation), the ovarian tissue that replaces the follicle (the corpus luteum) continues to produce estrogen and progesterone.


Estrogen is the hormone that stimulates growth of the uterine lining (endometrium), causing it to thicken during the pre-ovulatory phase of the cycle.

Progesterone is one of the hormones in our bodies that stimulates and regulates various functions. Progesterone plays a role in maintaining pregnancy. The hormone is produced in the ovaries, the placenta (when a woman gets pregnant) and the adrenal glands. It helps prepare your body for conception and pregnancy and regulates the monthly menstrual cycle. It also plays a role in sexual desire.

Injectable Hormones for Infertility

If Clomid on its own isn't successful, your doctor may recommend injectable hormones to stimulate ovulation. Some of the types are:

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), such as Pregnyl, Novarel, Ovidrel, and Profasi. This drug is usually used along with other fertility drugs to trigger the ovaries to release the mature egg or eggs.

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), such as Follistim, Fertinex, Bravelle, and Gonal-F

Human Menopausal Gonadotropin (hMG), such as Pergonal, Repronex, and Metrodin. This drug combines both FSH and LH (luteinizing hormone).

Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH), such as Factrel and Lutrepulse. This hormone stimulates the release of FSH and LH from the pituitary gland. These hormones are rarely prescribed in the U.S.

Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Agonist (GnRH agonist), such as Lupron, Zoladex, and Synarel. Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Antagonist (GnRH antagonist), such as Antagon and Cetrotide. 

Menotropins are an equal mixture of the naturally occurring follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). FSH and LH are important for the development of follicles (eggs) produced by the ovaries and for the development of sperm. Menotropins are used to stimulate ovulation (the release of an egg) when a woman's ovaries can produce a follicle but hormonal stimulation is deficient. Menotropins are also used to stimulate the development of multiple eggs for in vitro fertilization. Likewise, menotropins are used to stimulate the production of sperm in men who have functioning testes but in whom hormonal stimulation is deficient.

Provera is most often used to induce a withdrawal bleed or a 'period' in women who ovulate or menstruate infrequently. Provera is a prescription drug containing medroxyprogesterone acetate, a type of synthetic progesterone.

Menotropin preparations (Ferring's Menopur and Repronex) are used for stimulating hormones by triggering FSH and LH production in the body. This drug was originally designed for use in women where it stimulates the ovaries to produce multiple follicles, thus making them more fertile.

Femara (letrozole) is non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor used to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women. It is also used to stimulate follicle growth if Clomid fails.