Understanding fertility drugs for egg freezing
Women often ask the egg freezing specialists at our Louisiana fertility center team about fertility drugs for egg freezing. Women understandably want to know more about the administration, side effects, timing and other details surrounding the fertility drugs they’ll need to take.
Learn more about fertility drugs for egg freezing
During the 10-14 days of an egg freezing cycle, women will need to self-administer fertility drugs. It’s helpful to have a full understanding of these drugs and how they will affect the body.
- When to start taking medications. On the first day of the woman’s period, we’ll have her come into our office for an ultrasound to ensure the uterine lining is thin and there are no large cysts present on the ovaries. After an egg freezing specialist analyzes the results, they’ll likely recommend that she start medications on the second or third day of her period.
- Learning how to administer fertility drugs. The skilled nurses at our Louisiana fertility center will provide clear instructions for administering the fertility drugs.
- Fertility drugs for egg freezing. The medications for an egg freezing cycle often consist of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which stimulates egg production. Some of these drugs include Gonal-F or Follistim. Another option is Menopur, a drug that combines FSH and luteinizing hormone (LH). In addition, we use a fertility drug such as Ganirelix Acetate or Cetrotide to prevent the premature release of the eggs before the woman is ready for the egg retrieval.
- Potential side effects. While fertility drugs for egg freezing are incredibly safe, they do occasionally cause mild discomfort from bloating. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome can occur in very rare cases, but we can avoid it with regular monitoring at our clinic.
- Determining dosages. The woman will come to our clinic for multiple monitoring appointments during her egg freezing cycle. During these appointments, she will receive an ultrasound and blood test. These tests give the egg freezing specialist the information needed to determine her dosage. Before the end of the day, the woman will receive dosage instructions for her fertility drugs for egg freezing.
- Trigger and egg retrieval medications. When the doctor determines that the woman’s eggs are ready for retrieval, she will either take Lupron, also called leuprolide acetate, or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), with the brand name Ovidrel or Novarel. These trigger shots prepare the eggs for retrieval. During egg retrieval, the woman will briefly be under anesthesia.
Our staff can provide additional information for women wanting to know more about fertility drugs for egg freezing.
The next steps for egg freezing
Women interested in egg freezing should contact our office about the next steps. We will invite her to come to our Louisiana fertility center for a consultation with an egg freezing specialist to evaluate her fertility health to see if she is a good candidate for egg freezing.
Contact us for more information about fertility drugs for egg freezing or to schedule an appointment.
