Treating Female Infertility: Human Menopausal Gonadotropins (HmG)

Assisted reproductive therapy is often successful in bringing about pregnancy. In particular, many couples find that IVF and IUI treatments work wonders in helping them to conceive.

However, IVF and IUI cannot work unless you are ovulating properly. Human menopausal gonadoptropins (HmG) are often given to induce ovulation, helping to increase your chances of pregnancy with IVF and IUI.

What are Human Menopausal Gonadotropins?

Human menopausal gonadotropins are a natural medication used to help induce ovulation in women with certain fertility issues. Human menopausal gonadotropins contain both LH (luteinizing hormone) and FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), hormones needed to help trigger ovulation.

Human menopausal gonadotropins are found in the urine of postmenopausal women. They are removed from this urine, sterilized, and then used in fertility treatment.

How do Human Menopausal Gonadotropins Work?

Human menopausal gonadotropins work to trigger the release of LH and FSH in the body. Human menopausal gonadotropins work on the pituitary gland, causing it to release LH and FSH. This, in turn, stimulates ovulation.

Who Can Benefit from Human Menopausal Gonadotropins?

Human menopausal gonadotropins are often used to stimulate ovulation in women with:

  • ovulatory disorders, like PCOS
  • endometriosis
  • a pituitary gland that does not produce FSH or LH

Human menopausal gonadotropins are also used when Clomid appears to be ineffective.

How are Human Menopausal Gonadotropins Taken?

Human menopausal gonadotropins are typically taken in the form of intramuscular injections. Usually given two to three days after menstruation begins, human menopausal gonadotropins are administered daily for 7 to 12 days. Dosages can vary from woman to woman and from cycle to cycle, however, a typical dosage is between 75 and 600 IU/day.

Side Effects of Human Menopausal Gonadotropins

Human menopausal gonadotropins do tend to cause side effects in some women. In particular, they can cause hyperovarian stimulation, during which too many follicles form inside of the ovaries.

You may also notice that you suffer from increased mood swings while using this fertility medication. Human menopausal gonadotropins also increase the chance of having a multiple pregnancy by a significant amount. 40% of all pregnancies that occur while using this medication are twins or higher order multiples.

How Effective are Human Menopausal Gonadotropins?

Human menopausal gonadotropins are very successful in inducing ovulation in most women. Between 75% and 85% of patients begin to ovulate after using this medication.

Pregnancy rates tend to be around 60%, although half of these pregnancies will not be carried to term.

 

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