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MEDICINES TO STIMULATE YOUR OVARIES

Hormone treatments that help your ovaries produce eggs, supporting the key stage of your IVF cycle before egg collection. 

Understanding stimulation medications in IVF

During the stimulation stage of your fertility treatment, you may be prescribed medicines to help your ovaries produce multiple follicles, each containing an egg. These stimulation medications are an essential part of IVF, giving you the best possible chance of a successful egg collection. 

On this page, we’ve outlined some of the most commonly used stimulation medications. Each section explains what the medicine does, how it’s taken, possible side effects, and when to contact us if you have concerns. 

Your exact prescription will be tailored to you, and you’ll find your personalised schedule and instructions in the Care Fertility companion app, Salve. If you’re ever unsure or worried about how you’re feeling, our team is only a call or message away. 

Gonadotrophin injections

Ovaleap

Active ingredient: Follitropin alfa 
Available form: Prefilled multidose pen 

Ovaleap contains follitropin alfa, a hormone that stimulates your ovaries to produce follicles, each containing an egg. It helps your ovaries produce multiple eggs during IVF, improving the chance of collecting enough eggs for treatment. 

How to store it

Keep in the fridge (28°C). Do not freeze. After opening, the pen can be stored at room temperature (below 25°C) for up to 28 days.
How to take it

Ovaleap is injected under the skin of your abdomen. Follow the timings and doses in your Salve schedule.

 
Possible side effects

Pain or swelling at the injection site, headaches, bloating, nausea, breast tenderness, or ovarian cysts. See the leaflet for full details. 

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS): 
Contact your Care Fertility team immediately if you notice lower abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, rapid weight gain, or difficulty breathing. These may be symptoms of OHSS. 
Disposal Dispose of used pens and needles in the provided sharps bin.

Gonal F

Active ingredient: Follitropin alfa 
Available form: Prefilled multidose pen 

Gonal F contains follitropin alfa, a hormone that stimulates your ovaries to produce follicles for IVF. It encourages multiple follicles to grow, increasing the number of eggs available for collection. 

How to take it

Inject under the skin of your abdomen or thigh at the times shown in Salve.

 

 
Possible side effects

Pain or swelling at the injection site, headaches, bloating, nausea, breast pain, or ovarian cysts. 

See the leaflet in your medication pack for the full list of possible side effects.

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS): 
Contact your Care Fertility team immediately if you notice lower abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, rapid weight gain, or difficulty breathing. These may be symptoms of OHSS. 
How to store it

Keep in the fridge (28°C). Do not freeze. Once opened, the pen can be kept at room temperature (below 25°C) for up to 28 days.
Disposal Dispose of used pens and needles in the provided sharps bin.

Meriofert (75/150iu & 900iu)

Active ingredient: Human menopausal gonadotrophin 
Available form: Powder and solvent for injection 

Meriofert contains a combination of hormones (FSH and LH) that stimulate your ovaries to produce follicles.  It encourages the growth of multiple follicles, improving the number of eggs that can be collected during IVF. 

How to take it

Inject under the skin of your abdomen at the times shown in Salve. Your clinic will advise on preparation.

 

 
Possible side effects

Pain or swelling at the injection site, headaches, bloating, nausea, breast pain, tiredness, or ovarian cysts. 

See the leaflet in your medication pack for the full list of possible side effects.

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS): 

Contact your Care Fertility team immediately if you notice lower abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, rapid weight gain, or difficulty breathing. These may be symptoms of OHSS. 
How to store it

Keep below 25°C in its carton. Use immediately after mixing.
Disposal Used syringes are disposed of in your clinic’s sharps bin.