Menopur (human menopausal gonadotrophin)

Menopur (human menopausal gonadotrophin)




Menopur injection contains human menopausal gonadotrophin (sometimes known as menotrophin) as the active ingredient. Human menopausal gonadotrophin is a combination of two naturally-occurring female hormones, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH), extracted and purified from the urine of post-menopausal women. It is used in the treatment of infertility.
FSH and LH directly affect the ovaries in women and the testicles in men.
In the ovaries in women, FSH and LH increase the number of growing follicles and stimulate their development. Within the follicles are the developing eggs. FSH also increases the production of oestrogen and under the influence of this hormone the largest follicle continues to develop. As the amount of oestrogen in the blood increases, this triggers a surge of LH, which results in the final maturation and release of an egg from the ovary (ovulation).
This medicine is used to stimulate the development of a mature follicle and egg in women who are having difficulties getting pregnant due to problems with ovulation. It is used for women who have tried treatment with clomifene, eg Clomid, when this has been unsuccessful.
When the follicle has developed appropriately, another medicine called human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), eg Choragon is given. This causes ovulation to happen.
This medicine can also be used to stimulate multiple follicles and eggs to develop in women who are having assisted conception treatments such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). The eggs are harvested and fertilised in a test tube and the resulting embryo is then implanted in the womb.
In men, FSH is involved in the production and development of sperm in the testicles. This medicine is used to increase sperm production in men who have a low sperm count as a result of low hormone levels. It is also used in combination with human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), which increases the production of testosterone in the testicles and helps the FSH to work.
Treatment with Menopur is started under the supervision of a specialist trained in the treatment of fertility problems. The injections are administered either under the skin (subcutaneously) or into a muscle (intramuscularly).