Key Facts
- Ovidrel is a hormone injection used primarily for inducing ovulation in women experiencing infertility.
- It triggers the release of luteinising hormone (LH), leading to increased estrogen and ovulation.
- Ovidrel can be combined with follicle-stimulating hormone to enhance egg production.
- There are two types of hCG injections: r-hCG (recombinant) and u-hCG (urine-derived), each with different applications.
- Ovidrel is administered via a subcutaneous injection and requires a prescription in Australia.
- Risks include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and potential side effects like nausea and abdominal pain.
Ovidrel, or choriogonadotropin alfa, is a medication primarily used by women experiencing infertility and trying to conceive. It also treats low sperm quality and counts due to medical conditions like pituitary disorders or traumatic testicle injuries.
Ovidrel can be mixed with another type of hormone called follicle-stimulating hormone. Once injected, this type of medication signals to the ovaries that it is time to release the mature egg into the cavity.
Continue reading to learn about Ovidrel and how it can assist with conception.
Overview of Ovidrel
Ovidrel is a hormone injection that can induce ovulation in women. It triggers a release of luteinising hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland. As a result of this LH surge, the ovaries produce more oestrogen, resulting in ovulation.
Trigger shots are an injection containing prostaglandin F2alpha, which helps induce ovulation in women trying to conceive. Prostaglandins are naturally occurring substances that help regulate many bodily functions, including reproduction.
r-hCG and u-hCG Injections
If you are pregnant, there is a very high chance of receiving an r-hCG or u-hCG hormone injection. This hormone is essential for the formation of the placenta and for maintaining pregnancy.
What Is hCG?
The placenta produces human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) during pregnancy. It is also known as the pregnancy hormone because it is present in your blood and urine after implantation.
How Do Injections of hCG Work?
These injections contain a synthetic form of hCG that increases your body’s ability to produce progesterone and oestrogen. The hormones encourage the growth of your uterine lining (endometrium) to support a developing foetus. The injections also help prevent spontaneous abortion or miscarriage before 12 weeks gestation.
Ovidrel r-hCG Versus u-hCG
While r-hCG and u-hCG are the same hormones, they differ in how they are procured. The r-hCG is a recombinant version of the hormone. It is produced using recombinant DNA technology in a lab. The u-hCG is the hormone found in pregnant women’s urine.
Both forms of hCG are used in infertility treatments and pregnancy tests, but they have different applications. Recombinant hCG (r-hCG) can prevent miscarriage and treat infertility; it can also help diagnose pregnancy complications such as ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage. Urine hCG (u-hCG) is an early pregnancy test to detect pregnancy up to six days after conception or implantation.
How Ovidrel Works
Ovidrel is a fertility drug that causes ovulation in women. You take it as a single shot, and it works by causing your body to release more than one egg (a process called hyperstimulation).
In Australia, Ovidrel is only available with a prescription from your doctor. It’s given as a subcutaneous injection in your upper thigh or buttocks.
You will receive the shot on the fifth day of your menstrual cycle, but you may take it any day if you’ve already started ovulating. The drug stimulates the pituitary gland to release luteinising hormone (LH), triggering ovulation. As the LH rises, it increases the amount of oestrogen and progesterone in your body, helping the endometrial lining thicken so an embryo can easily implant.
Ovidrel causes hyperstimulation by releasing follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) into your bloodstream for 72 hours after administration. The high levels of FSH cause multiple eggs within each follicle to grow until they’re mature enough to release. If there are no sperm present in the fallopian tubes or uterus, these mature eggs will die off without being fertilised.
Understanding How Ovidrel Is Used
Ovidrel is a fertility drug given as part of fertility treatment. It can be used in cases where the female is infertile and to assist with IVF procedures.
Unsubstantiated Use of Ovidrel for Weight Loss
Ovidrel is sometimes used outside infertility and fertility treatments to help weight loss. However, the evidence regarding the efficacy of Ovidrel in weight loss is weak. If you are concerned about your weight, speak to your healthcare professional.
Reasons Not to Use Ovidrel and Trigger Shots
Ovidrel, a fertility medication, is not recommended for women with insufficiency or reserves. Here are a few reasons your doctor might advise you against Ovidrel or trigger shots:
- If you are susceptible to developing Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), your doctor may advise against Ovidrel. One possible risk from simultaneously taking fertility drugs is OHSS. If you are at high risk for this condition, your doctor might advise you to abstain from taking Ovidrel.
- Your doctor may stop fertility treatment if hormonal blood work and ultrasound monitoring show you have ‘too many’ follicles in your ovaries.
- Your doctor might want you to avoid Ovidrel if you are allergic to its components.
If your doctor advises you not to administer Ovidrel during your cycle, follow their instructions, remembering that sudden OHSS can be life-threatening.
Does Ovidrel improve egg quality?
Ovidrel in PCOS
If you are an infertile woman with polycystic ovarian syndrome PCOS in Australia, you may wonder if you can use Ovidrel. Ovidrel is a medication used to induce ovulation and help women get pregnant. It is commonly used in infertility treatment for women who have PCOS.
Ovidrel is a recombinant gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog, which means it is a manufactured version of a natural hormone your body produces. The hormone is injected once every week or two for about two months.
Ovulation induction with Ovidrel works by causing the pituitary gland to secrete more follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which stimulates the ovaries to grow multiple eggs instead of just one egg during ovulation in women who do not have PCOS.
Learn How to Use the Trigger Shot, Ovidrel
It will depend on the protocol whether you take Ovidrel at certain times of the day. In general, it should be taken about two days after the start of your menstrual cycle to stimulate egg production.
Ovidrel is injected into the fatty tissues under the skin rather than muscle tissue. Always follow instructions given by your doctor to inject treatment. Be careful not to inject too early or too late, as it can cause problems in your treatment cycle.
How to Self-Inject Yourself With Ovidrel and Trigger Shots
The following advice is general: always speak to your healthcare professional before starting a new course of medication and ask them any questions you might have.
Get everything you need, including the needle, and inject yourself when ready. Items needed for the injection include alcohol swabs, clean gauze, instructions (which you should read carefully), and Ovidrel prefilled syringe.
Please wash your hands thoroughly with soap and dry them with a clean towel. Then take the Ovidrel prefilled syringe out of the box and remove the safety cap, focusing the needle upward. Remove any air bubbles by tapping the needle while still pointed up. Push down on the plunger until a droplet comes to its end. Use an alcohol swab to disinfect the injection site. Pick your spot to inject, ensuring it’s at least one inch away from your belly button.
If your doctor prescribed u-hCG rather than Ovidrel’s r-hCG, you might need to prepare the needle for injection yourself. In this case, you should get detailed instructions from your fertility clinic.
Risks and Possible Side Effects
Some women who have used Ovidrel have reported a high rate of adverse effects, including abdominal pain, upset stomach, nausea, and vomiting.
If fertility drugs are used, there is a risk of developing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Gonadotropin treatments with Ovidrel are more likely to cause OHSS than taking Ovidrel alone. However, it’s crucial to understand the root cause of any possible symptoms. Talk with your doctor if you experience OHSS or have any questions.
When you plan for an IUI or IVF cycle, your doctor will give you instructions on what days to come in so that they can monitor when the egg is ultimately released. The best period is determined by when you give yourself the trigger shot.
Ovulation and Pregnancy
The injection of Ovidrel triggers ovulation within 24 to 36 hours. When you have the injection, you should have intercourse on the day of the injection or the next day to increase the chance of conception.
If you do not become pregnant, it may take another treatment cycle before you conceive. Ovulation should occur in about 24 to 36 hours after the Ovidrel injection. The window for fertility is approximately six days before ovulation and up to two days following.
It would help if you began using an additional form of birth control until you receive confirmation that your ovulation has occurred and pregnancy is no longer possible.
Does the Use of Ovidrel Affect Your Chances of Getting Pregnant?
The success rate of an Ovidrel treatment depends on many factors, including the patient’s age.
A study conducted on women with fertility issues found that the success rate of the IUI pregnancy cycle was highest when it relied on Ovidrel rather than the natural LH surge or timing an injection to be taken at the same time as the amount of LH.
The success rates of pregnancies increased when the body’s LH surge was combined with r-hCG. Of the women who received a trigger shot, 50% became pregnant.
When to Take a Pregnancy Test
If you are trying to conceive, there are some things that you should know about ovulation and pregnancy tests.
Ovulation usually happens once a month (between days 12 and 16) in preparation for fertilisation by sperm. After an egg is released, it can take up to six days to travel through your fallopian tube and become available for fertilisation.
Pregnancy Tests: How They Work
There are two types of pregnancy tests: qualitative and quantitative. A qualitative test gives you a yes or no answer based on whether or not hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is present in your urine sample. A quantitative test provides a numerical value based on the amount of hCG in your urine sample, allowing for more accurate results than qualitative testing alone.
How Soon Can You Take A Pregnancy Test To Determine Ovulation?
You can take an ovulation test as early as seven days after ovulation (this is when the luteinising hormone surge begins). Most women will have enough hCG by this point.
How Much Does Ovidrel Cost?
The cost of Ovidrel depends on several factors, including the dosage, brand name, and pharmacy.
Get Treated for Infertility in Australia Today
Figuring out how to conceive can be difficult and stressful. Your healthcare provider will be your best resource when deciding on fertility medications.
If you struggle with infertility, the cost of trying to conceive can quickly increase. Fortunately, Fertility2Family is here to help with our range of affordable fertility products, including pregnancy and ovulation tests. Browse the complete collection online today and contact our team with any questions.
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Evan Kurzyp
Evan is the founder of Fertility2Family and is passionate about fertility education & providing affordable products to help people in their fertility journey. Evan is a qualified Registered Nurse and has expertise in guiding & managing patients through their fertility journeys.