What are gonadotrophins used for?

Gonadotrophins are medicines that act like hormones involved in ovarian function. Follicle-stimulating hormone can encourage follicles to grow, while luteinising-hormone activity may support final maturation and ovulation. The choice depends on your diagnosis, ovarian response and the treatment pathway.

They may be used with timed intercourse or insemination, or as part of a treatment cycle in which eggs are collected for IVF. Ultrasound scans and sometimes blood tests help the team see how the ovaries are responding. More than one follicle may develop, so monitoring is a key part of safe care.

Inject the medicine exactly as taught and attend every monitoring visit. Keep a record of doses and ask before using any additional fertility or hormone medicine. Abdominal fullness, breast tenderness, headache or injection-site irritation can occur. Your team may adjust or pause treatment when the ovarian response calls for it.

Call the fertility clinic promptly for increasing abdominal pain or swelling, persistent vomiting, sudden weight change, shortness of breath, faintness or much less urine. These symptoms need assessment during stimulation. Get urgent help for severe breathing trouble, collapse or signs of a serious allergic reaction.

Ask which gonadotrophin you will use, how to store and inject it, and how scans guide dose changes. Clarify the plan for ovulation timing or egg collection, what happens after a missed dose, and which symptoms should be reported immediately.