Fertility Medication Information

Description

Side Effects

Headaches, nausea, DO NOT USE if you have a latex allergy.

Administration Site

Subcutaneous (SQ)

Description

Used to prevent premature LH surge in women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation.

Side Effects

Headaches, nausea

Administration Site

Subcutaneous (SQ)

Description

Used to induce ovulation by acting on the pituitary gland to release the hormones that induce follicle development within the ovary.

Side Effects

Hot flashes, mood swings, breast tenderness, nausea, and headaches. These are not serious and usually go away once the medication is stopped for that cycle.

Administration Site

A pill that is taken orally.

Description

Estrogen replacement is used during your treatment cycle to improve the thickness of your uterine lining for an embryo to implant and to maintain the uterine environment for a pregnancy to grow.

Side Effects

Nausea, vomiting, bloating, stomach cramps, stomach upset, breast tenderness/pain/swelling, headache, weight changes, freckles or darkening of facial skin, loss of scalp hair, vaginal itching or discharge, changes in your menstrual periods, or break-through bleeding.

Administration Site

Estrace is a pill that is prescribed either for vaginal insertion or to be taken orally. Your nurse will instruct you whether you should take your Estrace orally or vaginally.

Description

Used to induce ovulation and is responsible for stimulating growth and the maturation of the eggs.

Side Effects

Occasionally headache and slight water retention and moodiness.

Administration Site

Subcutaneous (SQ)

Intramuscular (IM) – Only when instructed by your nurse. 

Description

Used to induce ovulation and is responsible for stimulating growth and the maturation of the eggs.

Side Effects

Occasionally headache and slight water retention and moodiness.

Administration Site

Subcutaneous (SQ) or Intramuscular (IM) – You will be instructed your administration site by your nurse.

Description

Used to induce ovulation and is responsible for stimulating growth and the maturation of the eggs.

Side Effects

Occasionally headache and slight water retention and moodiness.

Administration Site

Intramuscular (IM) or Subcutaneous (SQ) – You will be instructed your administration site by your nurse. 

Description

Used to induce ovulation and is responsible for stimulating growth and the maturation of the eggs.

Side Effects

Occasionally headache and slight water retention and moodiness.

Administration Site

Subcutaneous (SQ) or Intramuscular (IM) – You will be instructed your administration site by your nurse.

Description

Used to induce ovulation and is responsible for stimulating growth and the maturation of the eggs.

Side Effects

Occasionally headache and slight water retention and moodiness.

Administration Site

Subcutaneous (SQ) or Intramuscular (IM). You will be instructed your administration site by your nurse.

Description

Letrozole is a drug used frequently to induce ovulation. This drug acts on the pituitary gland to release the hormones that induce follicle development within the ovary.

Side Effects

Hot flashes, mood swings, breast tenderness, nausea, and headaches. These are not serious and usually go away once the medication is stopped for that cycle.

Administration Site

A pill that is taken orally.

Description

Used to induce ovulation and is responsible for stimulating growth and the maturation of the eggs.

Side Effects

Occasionally headache and slight water retention and moodiness.

Administration Site

Subcutaneous (SQ) or Intramuscular (IM). You will be instructed your administration site by your nurse.

Description

Simulates the body’s normal LH surge causing the final maturation of the eggs. It is expected that ovulation will take place 38-40 hours after HCG. You will be instructed by your nurse, your dose and injection site based on your treatment protocol.

Side Effects

Occasionally low abdominal (pelvic) discomfort.

Administration Site

Intramuscular (IM) or Subcutaneous (SQ) – You will be instructed your injection site by your nurse. 

Description

Enhances aromatase activity that is needed to convert androgens like testosterone into estrogen in the body in order to stimulate ovulation.

Side Effects

Local reactions at the injection site (such as pain, numbness, redness and swelling), headaches, swelling associated with fluid retention, pain in joints and muscle pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, tingling and numbness, high blood sugar (hyperglycemia/diabetes) and sugar in your urine (glucosuria), unusual skin sensations, low levels of thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism).

Administration Site

Subcutaneous (SQ) or Intramuscular (IM) – You will be instructed your injection site by your nurse. 

Description

Simulates the body’s normal LH surge causing the final maturation of the eggs. It is expected that ovulation will take place 38-40 hours after injection.

Side Effects

Occasionally low abdominal (pelvic) discomfort.

Administration Site

Subcutaneous (SQ)

Description

Progesterone is the hormone necessary for the preparation of the uterine lining for the implantation of the embryo and the maintenance of early pregnancy.

Side Effects

Breast tenderness, injection site tenderness, vaginal discharge.

Administration Site

Intramuscular (IM)

Description

Progesterone is used to maintain the lining of the uterus and support a pregnancy. This medication will continue until your pregnancy test and then, if pregnant, you will be tapered off during the first trimester through monitoring of progesterone levels.

Side Effects

Crampy feeling, Breast tenderness, Drowsiness or dizziness, Depression.

**Do not take Prometrium if you are allergic to peanuts**

Administration Site

Vaginal Insertion

Description

Saizen® [somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection] is a prescription medicine indicated for the treatment of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) to replace growth hormone in adults because of either a deficiency that started as a child or started as an adult due to pituitary disease, hypothalamic disease, surgery, radiation therapy, or trauma.

Side Effects

Injection site tenderness, low levels of thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism), pain in joints and muscle pain, swelling associated with fluid retention, tingling and numbness, unusual skin sensations, carpal tunnel syndrome, increased blood sugar (hyperglycemia)

Administration Site

Intramuscular injection (IM)

Description

The Vivelle patch is a form of estrogen that helps maintain an early pregnancy.

Side Effects

Watch for skin redness, irritation and welting.  Some women will have an allergic reaction to the adhesive. Other potential side effects include: nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, constipation, bloating, breast swelling and tenderness, nipple discharge, headache, back pain, joint pain, weight changes, acne, skin color changes, increased facial hair, thinning scalp hair, cold symptoms (stuffy nose, sneezing, sinus pain, sore throat), changes in your menstrual periods, or break-through bleeding.

Administration Site

Apply the patch to the skin much like a band-aid.  It may be placed anywhere on your torso; however, Do not apply near your breast tissue.  The lower abdomen is a good place to start.