Ovitrelle injections contain the active ingredient choriogonadotropin alfa, which is a synthetic version of a natural sex hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). It is used together with another hormone called follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in the treatment of infertility in women.
What is it used for?
- Stimulating the release of eggs (ovulation) in women having treatment for infertility caused by problems with their natural ovulation.
- Stimulating the final maturation of eggs in women having in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment.
How does it work?
- Ovitrelle injections contain the active ingredient choriogonadotropin alfa, which is a synthetic version of a natural sex hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). It is used together with another hormone called follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in the treatment of infertility in women.
- Normally, in the ovaries in women, FSH increases the number of growing follicles and stimulates their development. Within the follicles are the developing eggs. FSH also increases the production of oestrogen, and under the influence of this hormone, the largest follicle continues to develop.
Use with caution in
- Women at risk of blood clots in the blood vessels (thromboembolism, eg deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism), for example due to a personal or family history.
- Not to be used in
- Women with tumours of the pituitary or hypothalamic glands in the brain.
- Women with breast, uterine or ovarian cancer.
- Women with an active blood clot in a blood vessels, eg deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism.
- Women with vaginal bleeding of unknown cause.
- Women with ovarian cysts or enlarged ovaries, not due to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
- Women whose ovaries are not functioning properly.
- Women with blocked fallopian tubes, unless having IVF.
- Women with a physical defect of the reproductive organs (uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and/or cervix).
- Women who have had a premature menopause or hysterectomy.
- Women with uterine fibroids that may cause problems with a pregnancy.
- Women who have had an ectopic pregnancy in the previous three months.
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- This medicine must not be used in women who are already pregnant or breastfeeding.
Side effects
Common
- Pain, bruising, inflammation and itching at the injection site.
- Headache.
- Mild to moderate over-stimulation of the ovaries (ovarian hyperstimulation), causing the production of many eggs.
- Tiredness.
- Disturbances of the gut, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain.
Uncommon
- Severe over-stimulation of the ovaries, causing the production of many eggs.
- Breast pain.
- Depression.
- Diarrhoea.
- Irritability.
- Restlessness.
Very rare
- Allergic reactions.
- Skin irritation, such as skin rash.
How can this medicine affect other medicines?
- It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while while having treatment with this one, to make sure that the combination is safe.
- The presence of this medicine in the blood can cause pregnancy tests (blood or urine) to give false positive results for up to ten days after having the injection.
References:
https://theodora.com/drugs/eu/ovitrelle.html
https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/during-pregnancy/a8716/ovitrelle-choriogonadotropin-alfa/
https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/5527/smpc
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/ovitrelle
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/overview/ovitrelle-epar-summary-public_en.pdf
https://www.medicines.ie/medicines/ovitrelle-250-micrograms-0-5-ml-pre-filled-pen-33266/
https://hcp.merckgroup.com/in-en/fertility.html
https://www.merckgroup.com/en/expertise/fertility/fertility-treatments/ovitrelle-ovidrel.html
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