Fertility medication may in a larger sense include any medication that enhances fertility, but in a specific sense consists of agents that stimulate follicle development of the ovary.
Classification
Agents that enhance ovarian activity can be classified as follows.
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Gonadotropin releasing hormone
- GnRH
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GnRH agonists (i.e.Lupron ®)
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Estrogen antagonists
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Clomiphene citrate (actually a SERM)
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Aromatase inhibitors
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Gonadotropins
- Urinary gonadotropins (menotropins)
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Pergonal ®
- Prurified menotropins
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Recombinant gonadotropins
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FSH (Follistim ®, Gonal F ®)
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LH (Luveris ®)
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human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
- Urinary hCG
- Recombinant hCG (Ovidrel ®)
Estrogen antagonists and gonadotropins may stimulate multiple follicles leading to multiple birth and possible ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.
Last updated: 05-10-2005 04:32:01
Last updated: 10-29-2005 02:13:46