The Drugs: Each of these drugs is a protein hormone. Gonal F and Follistim are made by recombinant DNA technology, while Fertinex, Bravelle, Repronex, Humegon and Pergonal are isolated from the urine of menopausal women and freeze-dried into a powder. All of them have been specially processed to ensure maximum safety and potency. Because they are in powder form, they must be reconstituted with sterile water or saline before injection. The hormones that these drugs provide are Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH), which are hormones that your pituitary gland normally produces. Although FSH is the hormone primarily responsible for follicular development, both FSH and LH play a role in the normal development and ovulation of ovarian follicles. LH is normally responsible for triggering ovulation when a mature follicle is present. Each of these drugs acts directly on the ovaries and do not have activities elsewhere in the body.

Gonal F / Follistim: (75 IU FSH, no LH) are pure FSH made by recombinant DNA technology and are given subcutaneously. Gonal F is made by Serono Inc and comes in ampules (75 IU) and multi-dose (1200 IU) vials. Follistim is made by Organon, Inc and comes in vials (75 IU)

Fertinex: (75 IU FSH, < 0.1 IU LH): is almost pure FSH and is given subcutaneously. Fertinex is a more purified form of the old drug Metrodin, which is no longer available. Fertinex is made by Serono.

Bravelle: (75IU FSH, 1.0 IU LH) highly purified FSH and is given subcutaneously. Is similar (but more highly purified to the old drug Metrodin. Bravelle is made by Ferring, Inc.

Repronex / Pergonal / Humegon: (75IU FSH, 75 IU LH): is an equal mixture of both FSH and LH. Repronex is made by Ferring, Inc and can be given subcutaneously. Pergonal is made by Serono, Inc; Humegon is made by Organon, Inc. Both Pergonal and Humegon are given intramuscularly.

hCG: human chorionic gonadotropin, the "pregnancy hormone". Its actions are identical to LH, but it lasts longer. It is used to simulate the normal midcycle LH surge, which causes the final maturation of the egg and ovulation. It is used because the FSH-containing drugs have altered the normal feedback mechanisms and the LH surge may not occur on its own. Profasi, Pregnyl and Novarel are isolated from the urine of pregnant women and given intramuscularly. Profasi is made by Serono, Inc, Pregnyl is made by Organon, Inc and Novarel is made by Ferring. Ovridel is hCG that is made by recombinant DNA technology by Serono and is given subcutaneously.