Treating Female Fertility Issues: Urofollitropin (FSH)

<p> If you and your partner are having difficulties becoming pregnant, your reproductive endocrinologist will likely examine a number of aspects of your reproductive health. In particular, she will evaluate your menstrual cycle and ovulation. Abnormalities in the ovulatory process can often make pregnancy difficult for some couples. If you are having difficulties ovulating regularly, your health care provider may recommend the use of a fertility drug, like Urofollitropin. Urofollitropin can help to regulate your ovulation and increase your chances of pregnancy.

What is Urofollitropin?
Urofollitropin is the name given to a purified form of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone). FSH is a hormone produced by a small gland found inside your brain, called the pituitary gland. It works on your ovaries to help stimulate folliclular development and ovulation.

Sometimes, women do not produce enough FSH to regularly stimulate the development of their follicles. As a result, FSH is given to these women in order to encourage the ovulatory process (known as ovulation induction). Typically, this FSH is made syntheticaly, in the form of recombinant FSH, or it is taken from the urine of post-menopausal women. However, this is a complicated process and it is often difficult to retrieve uncontaminated samples of the FSH. Urofollitropin is a type of FSH that has been completely purified, and is thus free from any contamination.

Who Can Benefit from Urofollitropin Therapy?
Urofollitropin therapy is often used to help women ovulate more regularly. Women who are experiencing ovulatory or menstrual cycle disorders may elect to take urofollitropin, especially if they haven't achieved a pregnancy while taking Clomid. Urofollitropin is commonly used by women suffering from:

• low levels of FSH
• elevated levels of LH (luteinizing hormone)
• PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome)
• anovulation
• unexplained infertility

Urofollotropin is also used to help produce multiple eggs for:

• IVF
• GIFT
• ZIFT

How is Urofollitropin Taken?
Urofollitropin is generally given through intramuscular or subcutaneous injections. Typically, one injection of urofollitropin is given twice per day until ovulation is achieved. Dosages are different for every woman, but tend to range between 75 and 600 IU per day (or approximately one to eight ampules).

Side Effects of Urofollitropin
There are certain side effects associated with FSH therapy, and with Urofollitropin in particular. It is important that you only take Urofollitropin under the supervision of your health care provider. Be on the lookout for the following side effects:

• abdominal pain
• bloating
• decreased urination
• indigestion
• nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• fever or chills
• rapid weight gain

Urofollitropin is associated with a dangerous complication known as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Approximately 5% of women taking urofollitropin will develop this complication. Your reproductive endocrinologist will monitor you regularly for symptoms.

Urofollitropin Success Rates
Urofollitropin is associated with success rates that are similar to recombinant FSH therapy. Because urofollitropin is a purified form of FSH, it is very effective at inducing ovulation in most women. In fact, between 70% and 90% of women taking urofollitropin will ovulate when using this fertility medication. Pregnancy rates depend upon your overall health and the type of fertility procedures you are using, but they are generally between 25% and 30%.

It is important to note that urofollitropin is often associated with multiple pregnancies, particularly twins and triplets. Approximately 25% of all pregnancies achieved with the help of urofollitropin are multiple pregnancies.