Menotrophin (also called human menopausal gonadotropin, or hMG) is a fertility medicine that contains a combination of two natural reproductive hormones, FSH and LH. It belongs to a class of medicines called gonadotropins, used to stimulate egg development in women undergoing fertility treatment. It is a prescription-only, injectable medicine.

Therapeutic Class: Fertility medicine (gonadotropin therapy).

Pharmacological Class: Combined follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) activity.

Drug Family: Human menopausal gonadotropins (urinary-derived or highly purified preparations).

ATC Classification: G03GA02 (Menotropins).

Approved: Stimulation of multiple follicle (egg) development in women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (such as IVF), and ovulation induction in women with anovulatory infertility.

Commonly used for: Women undergoing IVF or other fertility treatments who need controlled ovarian stimulation to produce multiple eggs, and women who are not ovulating regularly on their own.

Off-label use (only under medical guidance): Occasionally used in specific male infertility protocols (alongside hCG) to stimulate sperm production, under specialist guidance.

●       Injection (subcutaneous or intramuscular, powder for reconstitution): commonly available as 75 IU and 150 IU vials/ampoules of combined FSH/LH activity.

Menotrophin supplies the body with FSH and LH, two hormones that the pituitary gland normally produces to control the growth of ovarian follicles (which contain developing eggs) and trigger their maturation. By providing these hormones directly, menotrophin stimulates the ovaries to develop one or more mature follicles, supporting either natural conception timing or egg retrieval for IVF.

• Standard starting dose (ovulation induction): Commonly starts around 150 IU subcutaneously or intramuscularly daily for the first several days of treatment, adjusted based on ovarian response seen on ultrasound and hormone monitoring.

• Condition-wise dose (IVF/controlled ovarian stimulation): Dose (often 75-300 IU daily) is individualised based on age, ovarian reserve, and response, and may be combined with other fertility medicines as part of the overall stimulation protocol.

• Route: Subcutaneous or intramuscular injection, typically self-administered or given by a partner/nurse after training.

• Missed dose: Contact the fertility clinic promptly for guidance, as timing is closely linked to monitoring scans and hormone levels.

• Overdose: Increases the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and multiple follicle development; managed by the treating fertility specialist.

• Common: Injection-site reactions (pain, redness, swelling), headache, abdominal discomfort, and bloating.

• Serious: Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) — a potentially serious condition involving enlarged ovaries and fluid shifts — and, rarely, blood clots or twisting of the ovary (ovarian torsion).

• Emergency symptoms: Severe abdominal pain or bloating, rapid weight gain, difficulty breathing, decreased urination, or signs of a severe allergic reaction (hives, difficulty breathing, facial swelling).

• Recovery advice: Close monitoring with ultrasound and blood hormone levels during treatment helps the fertility team adjust the dose and reduce OHSS risk before it becomes severe; any sudden worsening of abdominal symptoms should be reported immediately.

• Pregnancy: Not used once pregnancy is confirmed; used specifically to help achieve conception or support egg retrieval before that point.

• Breastfeeding: Not typically relevant, as this medicine is used prior to conception rather than during breastfeeding.

• Liver disease: Used with caution and specialist monitoring.

• Kidney disease: Used with caution and specialist monitoring.

• Elderly: Not applicable; used in women of reproductive age undergoing fertility treatment.

• Children: Not applicable; not used in children.

●        Clomiphene citrate: sometimes used together or in sequence as part of a stimulation protocol, under specialist guidance rather than as a general interaction concern.

●       GnRH agonists/antagonists: commonly used alongside menotrophin in IVF protocols to control the timing of ovulation, as part of the overall treatment plan rather than as an interaction to avoid.

●       hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin): used as a trigger injection after menotrophin stimulation to finalise egg maturation, timed carefully by the fertility team.

●       Transvaginal ultrasound monitoring of follicle growth throughout the treatment cycle.

●       Blood hormone levels (particularly estradiol) to track ovarian response.

●       Close monitoring for signs of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).

●       Assessment for multiple pregnancy risk given the potential for multiple mature follicles.

Recombinant FSH (follitropin alfa/beta), Clomiphene citrate, Letrozole (different mechanism, often used first-line for simpler ovulation induction).

Frequently used alongside GnRH agonists or antagonists to control the timing of ovulation, and followed by an hCG trigger injection to finalise egg maturation as part of a structured fertility treatment cycle.

●       Fertility / Assisted Reproduction Medicines

●       Gonadotropins

●       Ovulation Induction Therapies

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1. https://www.drugs.com/mtm/menotropins.html

2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/human-menopausal-gonadotropin

The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your doctor to know if this treatment is appropriate for your condition.