Fertility medication

Fertility medication may in a larger sense include any medication that enhances fertility, but in a specific sense consists of agents that stimulate follicle development of the ovary.

Classification

Agents that enhance ovarian activity can be classified as follows.

1. Gonadotropin releasing hormone
   1. GnRH
   2. GnRH agonists (i.e.Lupron ®)
2. Estrogen antagonists
   1. Clomiphene citrate (actually a SERM)
   2. Aromatase inhibitors
3. Gonadotropins
   1. Urinary gonadotropins (menotropins)
      1. Pergonal ®
      2. Prurified menotropins
   2. Recombinant gonadotropins
      1. FSH (Follistim ®, Gonal F ®)
      2. LH (Luveris ®)
   3. human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
      1. Urinary hCG
      2. Recombinant hCG (Ovidrel ®)

Estrogen antagonists and gonadotropins may stimulate multiple follicles leading to multiple birth and possible ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.