Fertility Drugs and IVF

In order for in vitro fertilization to be successful, assistance must be provided in the form of fertility drugs. These drugs are designed to stimulate and emulate hormones which normally regulate reproductive activities, to control the reproductive cycle and promote success with IVF. The primary drugs used in IVF include

- Gonadotropin (go-nad-oh-trow-pin) Releasing Hormone (GnRH) AgonistsAntagonistsGonadotropinshCGSolu-MedrolDoxycyclineProgesterone

- Progesterone is taken daily beginning two days after egg retrieval to support the embryo in the uterus until the placenta is able to make enough progesterone. This takes about 2 months.

- Doxycycline is given to the male partner during the woman's stimulation cycle to reduce bacteria that may be present in the sperm.

- Medrol is a steroid hormone given daily, for up to four days, to assist pre-embryo implantation in the uterine wall, following embryo transfer.

- Pregnyl, Profasi or Novarel is taken to help maturate the eggs and prepare them for retrieval. Gonal F, Bravelle, Follistim, Pergonal and Repronex are the most commonly used gonadotropins and they stimulate the egg follicle to ripen during inadequate follicular development.