Drug Index

CLOMIPHENE CITRATE

(CLOMID/SEROPHENE)

Stimulates the ovaries to produce follicles and assists in
their growth to maturity by increasing the amount of pituitary gonadotrophins. This is taken by mouth.

Most common side effects are hot flushes, abdominal discomfort,
ovarian enlargement, visual (eye) blurring, irritability and mood changes.

FSH or GONAL F / PUREGON

(Follicle Stimulating Hormone)

Both drugs stimulate the ovaries to produce follicles which contain the
eggs and are responsible for the growth and maturation of the eggs. Careful
monitoring must be undertaken during their use. These drugs are given by subcutaneous injection (just under the skin).

Occasional nausea, abdominal discomfort, vomiting, diarrhoea and enlargement of the ovaries. Pain and redness at the injection site.

SYNAREL / LUCRIN / ORGALUTRAN / CETROTIDE

Suppresses the ovaries and controls ovulation and therefore enables the
doctor to time the intervention into the cycle more precisely and thus collect
better quality eggs for fertilisation. Ovulation will not occur until the Lucrin is stopped and the Pregnyl/Profasi is given.

Lucrin is given daily by injection under the skin. Synarel is a nasal form of Lucrin and is taken by nasal spray twice a day.

You may experience hot flushes, dizziness, bone pain, headaches, redness
and itching around the injection site, nausea, breast tenderness and swelling.
Nasal irritation can occur with Synarel. There is no difference in pregnancy rates or side effects between either drug.

PROFASI / PREGNYL

(Human Chorionic
Gonadotrophin or HCG)

Stimulates the ovary to produce another hormone called progesterone and
helps to induce ovulation. Profasi and Pregnyl also help to maintain the lining of the uterus for implantation of the embryo.

You may experience some nausea, vomiting and some enlargement of the ovaries.