In vitro fertilization (IVF) protocols in the United States typically utilize three main types of medication with the following distinct purposes: to suppress ovulation, to stimulate the growth of multiple eggs, and to trigger the final maturation of the eggs. In addition, IVF is often followed by medications that aid the thickening of the uterine lining to support implantation.
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| IVF Medications Prior to Egg Retrieval |
Sometimes referred to as long down-regulation protocol, my IVF protocol included the following medications:
- Birth
control pills
- Purpose:
to synchronize the egg follicles (so that multiple follicles grow at the
same time), reduce the chance of cyst formation, and help avoid
scheduling conflicts for both patient and staff by adjusting the start
date of taking the pills
- Method
of administration: oral
- Brand:
Desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol
- Gonadotropin-releasing
hormone (GnRH) analog/agonist
- Purpose:
to prevent premature ovulation
- Method
of administration: subcutaneous injection in the upper thigh
- Brand:
Lupron
- Corticosteroid
- Purpose:
to potentially increase ovarian response to gonadotropins and improve egg
quality via adrenal androgen suppression (especially in women 35 years of
age or older); to suppress the woman’s immune system and thus prevent
rejection of the embryo during implantation into the uterus
- Method
of administration: oral
- Brand:
Dexamethasone
- Gonadotropin
containing follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Purpose:
to stimulate the development of multiple eggs
- Method
of administration: subcutaneous injection in the belly
- Brand:
Bravelle
- Gonadotropin
containing follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)
- Purpose:
to stimulate the development of multiple eggs
- Method
of administration: subcutaneous injection in the belly
- Brand: Menopur
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| Menopur and Bravelle Combination |
- Human
chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
- Purpose:
to trigger ovulation
- Method
of administration: intramuscular injection in the buttock
- Brand:
Novarel
- Antibiotic
- Purpose:
to prevent bacterial infection in the female partner after egg retrieval
and at embryo transfer; also given to the male partner to reduce the
bacteria level in semen
- Method
of administration: oral
- Brand:
Doxycycline hyclate
- Estradiol
valerate
- Purpose:
to help thicken the uterine lining; used by recipients of embryos (i.e.,
in cases of frozen embryo transfer, donor egg IVF, and gestational
surrogacy)
- Method
of administration: intramuscular injection in the buttock
- Brand:
Delestrogen
- Progesterone
- Purpose:
to support implantation by maintaining the uterine lining until the
placenta begins to make sufficient amount of progesterone
- Method
of administration: intramuscular injection in the buttock
- Brand:
Progesterone in sesame oil
- Anti-inflammatory
steroid
- Purpose:
to suppress immune function that might cause the uterine lining to reject
the embryo
- Brand:
Methylprednisolone (generic version of Medrol)
To see the details of my protocol over the length of the entire treatment (including dosage and timing), click on
“My IVF Schedule.”
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