Puregon

Origin and action

Puregon is an injectable preparation of a natural gonadotrophin hormone called follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and is produced by recombinant DNA technology. Recombinant technology produces a nearly 100% pure FSH without luteinizing hormone contamination, and with better batch to batch consistency.

Puregon is used to stimulate the development of ovarian follicles from which eggs are recovered at ovum pick-up. The number of follicles that develop depend on the individual woman's response to the drug. Your doctor will prescribe your dose and if you need more than one treatment cycle, it will be reviewed and sometimes changed in order to achieve the best possible stimulation.

Dosage and administration.

Puregon is most commonly used in combination with Synarel or Lucrin, though occasionally your doctor may prescribe it to be used with Clomiphene (see below).

Puregon is given by subcutaneous injection daily for approximately 9-13 days. Puregon comes in single dose vials. The nurses provide lessons on how to prepare and inject the drug or, you can attend our morning clinic for the injections.

Side effects.

Usually side effects are mild and cease once therapy has stopped. Most common side effects include slight abdominal distension, mild abdominal discomfort, breast tenderness, bruising and irritation at the injection site. Occasionally influenza type symptoms can occur and the clinic should be notified. The most severe side effect, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), is a potentially dangerous condition if not managed appropriately. See OHSS in this section for a detailed explanation of this syndrome.

Storage.

Puregon should be refrigerated.