There are some fertility medications that when purchased need to be refrigerated right away to preserve the potency and/or longevity of the drug. This list includes the following:

Lupron

Lupron or Leuprolide-full strength and microdose (this medication already comes pre-mixed by the pharmacy)

Growth Hormone, HGH

Growth Hormone, HGH, also known as Tevtropin or Protropin. This medication comes in boxes with a single vial of powder and a single vial of water that need to be mixed to provide you with 3 days’ worth of medication per each vial of the drug. This is done by mixing 3cc’s or 3mls of water (to the “3” mark on the syringe) to the entire powder and injecting yourself with 1cc or 1ml (to the “1” mark on the syringe) of the medication into your hip. Remember to always refrigerate all MIXED and UNMIXED vials of this drug.

Progesterone

Progesterone Suppositories come premade from the pharmacist. They are “waxy” in texture and will melt or stick together if not refrigerated.

hCG

hCG, also known as human chorionic gonadotropin, Ovridel, Pregnyl or Profasi, is used to trigger ovulation. When the full dosage of 10,000 units is reconstituted by mixing the entire vial of the powder with 2cc’s or 2mls of the water (to the “2” mark on the syringe), the entire dissolved solution is given IM into the hip muscle, and no refrigeration is needed. If you are instructed by a staff member at Arizona Center for Fertility Studies to do a “booster” shot of hCG after a timed intercourse or IUI cycle, in which you stimulated the ovaries with HMG (Human Menopausal Gonadotropins), the dosage is 5,000 units IM and can be given at any time of the day exactly one week after the trigger shot was done. Not always is hCG available in 5000 unit vials, so many patients will purchase a 10,000 unit vial and reconstitute it as noted above and will then inject ½ of the amount or 1cc IM into the hip muscle. This will leave ½ the dosage or 5,000 units (1cc or 1ml) in the reconstituted vial, which can be dated and placed in the refrigerator for up to one month for use later if you have not conceived on that cycle and wish to try another cycle the following month.

Follicular Stimulating Hormone

Follicular Stimulating Hormone or FSH is also known as Follistim, Gonal–F, Bravelle, Urofollitropin, or Fostimon. All unmixed vials can be stored at room temperature. If you have purchased either Follistim AQ or Gonal-F AQ cartridges for use with the pen, they need to be kept refrigerated at all times. Once the cartridge is punctured after the first injection, it remains good for one month under refrigeration, and then it should be discarded. There are also multi-dose vials of some of the above brands of FSH available. Once a vial is reconstituted for use (the powder is mixed with the solution), it must be refrigerated.