Pergonal is a fertility medication that helps assist individuals with infertility. It is a type of gonadotropin, a class of hormones that regulate reproductive function. This medication stimulates the development of eggs in the ovaries, a necessary step for conception in certain infertility cases. It addresses specific hormonal imbalances that can hinder natural pregnancy.
What Pergonal Is
Pergonal is a highly purified form of human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG), specifically derived from the urine of postmenopausal women. These women naturally produce elevated levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) because their ovaries are no longer functional, leading to increased pituitary output. This process isolates these gonadotropins for medicinal use.
Pergonal contains both FSH and LH in roughly equal proportions. This combination mimics the natural hormones produced by the pituitary gland that are essential for reproductive processes. While Pergonal was a prominent hMG brand, the brand itself has been discontinued in the U.S., though generic equivalents and similar menotropin products are available.
How Pergonal Stimulates Fertility
Pergonal primarily stimulates fertility by directly acting on women’s ovaries. The FSH component encourages the growth and development of multiple ovarian follicles, which are small sacs containing immature eggs. Simultaneously, the LH component works with FSH to mature these follicles and stimulate estrogen production, preparing the uterus for potential pregnancy. This dual action aims to produce more mature eggs than a natural cycle, increasing conception chances.
In a natural reproductive cycle, FSH initiates follicular growth, and LH contributes to estrogen production and final follicular maturation. Pergonal replicates this process, encouraging the ovaries to develop several follicles instead of the single follicle typical in a natural cycle. While primarily used in women, Pergonal (or hMGs) can also stimulate sperm production in men with specific infertility cases.
The Pergonal Treatment Process
Administering Pergonal typically involves a series of injections, given either subcutaneously (just under the skin) in the abdomen or intramuscularly (into a muscle) in the buttock. Patients may be trained to self-administer these at home. Treatment often spans several days, with daily injections for five to seven consecutive days, though it can extend up to 12 days depending on individual response.
Throughout treatment, close medical monitoring is essential to track ovarian response. This involves regular blood tests for hormone levels, like estradiol, and ultrasound examinations to visualize developing follicles. Based on assessments, Pergonal dosage may be adjusted to optimize follicular development and minimize risks. Once follicles reach a suitable size, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is usually administered to trigger final egg maturation and release (ovulation), typically 36 to 40 hours later.
Important Considerations
Patients undergoing Pergonal treatment should be aware of potential side effects. Common reactions can include injection site discomfort, headaches, breast tenderness, and mood changes. A more significant concern is Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), characterized by enlarged ovaries and fluid accumulation in the abdomen. Mild OHSS occurs in 10-20% of cycles, causing discomfort. Severe OHSS is rarer (affecting about 1% of cases) and can lead to symptoms like severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, rapid weight gain, and shortness of breath.
The risk of multiple pregnancies (e.g., twins or triplets) is also increased due to multiple egg stimulation. A six-month course of hMG therapy can achieve a 60-70% pregnancy rate in certain patients, provided other fertility factors are normal. Overall success rates for fertility treatments vary significantly based on individual factors like age. For example, women under 35 may have higher success rates than those over 40. Medical supervision is important throughout the process to manage these considerations.