• Gonal-F (follitropin alfa for injection) and Follistim (follitropin beta) are the first follicle stimulating hormones (FSH) to be produced by recombinant DNA technology. Unlike other fertility drugs that only encourage hormone production, FSH is the actual hormone responsible for producing and releasing healthy eggs in women, as well as for the production of sperm in men.

• Progesterone. The hormone progesterone is essential to the reproductive process. Inadequate progesterone production, known as a luteal phase deficiency (when a woman's body doesn't produce enough progesterone to support an embryo after fertilization), can also be treated with medication. Progesterone is typically administered with in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures. Women who have no ovarian function and want to pursue a pregnancy through donor egg technology, for example, must use progesterone and estrogen supplementation. For these women, an entire cycle must be simulated using a variety of hormonal therapies.

Although fertility drugs are known for causing a variety of physical and emotional side effects, there also appears to be some risk of developing ovarian cancer. This risk is now believed to be lower than previously reported and is not firmly established with clinical data. Most specialists will limit the duration of drug treatment and carefully consider when and for whom these medications are recommended. If pregnancy is achieved, any increased risk of developing ovarian cancer from taking fertility drugs is reduced to the average risk experienced by other women.

Diagnostic tests that help to identify potential implantation problems (performed prior to the procedures mentioned above) include:

• Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) involves the use of radio-opaque dye during fluoroscopy (x-ray) of the abdomen, which allows your health care professional to evaluate both the uterine cavity and tubal patency (whether the fallopian tubes are blocked).

• Saline-infusion sonogram (SIS) involves administering sterile saline into the uterine cavity under sonographic guidance, allowing evaluation of the endometrial contour. SIS differs from HSG in that it does not require exposure to radiation; however, it is not as effective as HSG in evaluating tubal function and patency.

In assisted reproductive technology, assisted hatching is sometimes used in an effort to improve implantation rates. Assisted hatching is done in addition to either IVF or IVF and ICSI. After the embryo has formed and prior to its transfer to the uterus, the outer covering of the embryo called the zona pellucida is thinned by a special harmless solution. This will help in hatching so that the cells of the embryo will emerge from the outer shell and hopefully implant in the uterus. This method is suggested in women over age 35 or patients who have repeatedly failed IVF attempts.

Copyright 2003
National Women's Health Resource Center Inc. (NWHRC)