Female fertility treatments

Anti-oestrogen drugs such as clomiphene are designed to stop the negative feedback effect of oestrogen on the hypothalamus and it doing so cause an increase in hormone production by the hypothalamus which in turn causes an increase in the production of LH and FSH. The can have a direct affect on ovaries to induce ovulation.

These drugs are unlikely to be effective in women with Kallmann's or HH but may be used as a first attempt, especially if HRT has been taken for a period of time.

Common trade names for clomiphene include: (Clomid (USA / UK), Clomifene (UK) Milophene (USA) and Serophene (USA).

Pituitary Hormones.

The anterior pituitary gland releases a range of hormones with various functions around the body.

Luteinising hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) are known as gonadotrophins because they act on the gonads (testes or ovaries) to release the sex hormones. The term luteinising hormone and follicle stimulating hormone refers to their actions on the ovaries, but it is the same hormone that affects the testes in men.

The amounts of LH and FSH released by the pituitary are very small. However there is a another natural source of gonadotrophins, which have a very similar structure and almost identical chemical function as FSH and LH.

hCG is secreted by the placenta of pregnant women. It is an early form of LH and is used by the developing foetus. Excess LH is readily excreted into the urine. A highly purified form of hCG can then be obtained from the urine.

Common trade names of hCG include Choragon (UK), Pregnyl (USA / UK), Chorex (USA) and Choron (USA).

hMG is sometimes referred to as menotrophin. It is a mixture of LH and FSH in equal quantities and is produced from the urine of menopausal women.

Common trade names of hMG include Menopur (UK) and Menogon (UK).

Even though these hormones are obtained from females, they are not 'female' hormones and have the correct function in both males and females.

Follitropin is a recombinant form of FSH. This means it is not naturally derived like hMG or hCG but produced synthetically. This means it is more expensive than read more