The medicines used in fertility treatments can be divided into different categories. Based on your details, your doctor will decide which medication to prescribe and at what dose. This overview of the different medicines gives you background information. If you need more information, please discuss your questions with your doctor.
For detailed information and injection instructions we refer you to the website of our Serpha pharmacy.
Goal: Stimulating the maturation of eggs is a process in which hormones play a role. Our aim is a controlled development of follicles.
Depending on the treatment, we focus either on the growth and ovulation of one or two follicles at the right moment, or on the maturation of several follicles so that multiple eggs can be retrieved.
How it works: Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH) play a crucial role in the natural growth of a follicle and in ovulation. FSH stimulates the growth of follicles in the ovaries, in which the eggs mature. LH helps with the final maturation and triggers ovulation, so that the egg is released.
FSH and LH medication can help the ovaries mature one or more follicles and, depending on the treatment, induce ovulation.
Goal: Triggering the eggs is an important step in several fertility treatments. We use medication to stimulate the final maturation of the eggs, so that they can be fertilised at the right moment.
This process is carefully timed to increase your chances of a successful pregnancy.
How it works: hCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin) is often used in fertility treatments to trigger ovulation. This hormone has the same effect as LH and stimulates the mature follicles to release their eggs.
After hCG has been administered, the hormone ensures that the eggs mature optimally and can be fertilised.
Goal: Preventing premature ovulation during your fertility treatment can be essential for the chance of successful fertilisation or egg retrieval. Ovulating too early can mean that no eggs are available at the time of the egg retrieval, or that the eggs become overmature.
How it works: LHRH (luteinising hormone-releasing hormone) is produced in the hypothalamus and stimulates the pituitary gland to produce LH and FSH. By administering a modified form of LHRH, the production of LH and FSH is blocked. This prevents premature ovulation, so that the eggs can be retrieved at the right moment.
Goal: A healthy endometrium (lining of the uterus) is essential for a successful pregnancy. It allows a fertilised egg or embryo to implant properly and continue developing in the uterus. When progesterone production falls, this signals the endometrium to shed, resulting in your period.
How it works: Progesterone suppresses the hormones LH and FSH to prevent new eggs from maturing. We therefore prescribe additional progesterone medication (vaginally or by injection) before the embryo transfer, to increase the chance of successful implantation. Progesterone prepares the endometrium for good implantation of the fertilised egg or embryo.
The active substance in Cetrotide® is cetrorelix.
Cetrotide® belongs to the group of medicines known as hypothalamic hormones. It suppresses the production of female sex hormones. It is mainly used in IVF and ICSI. In IVF or ICSI treatment, fertilisation takes place outside the body.
An egg that can be fertilised has developed over the preceding days; this is called "maturing". Once the egg is sufficiently developed, it is released for fertilisation. This is called ovulation. Cetrotide® is prescribed to prevent ovulation from taking place before the egg is sufficiently developed.
This medicine is available via the Serpha website.
The active substance in Clomid® is clomifene citrate.
Clomid® belongs to a group of medicines that partly mimic and partly block the action of the female oestrogen hormones. As a result, it stimulates the release of hormones responsible for the growth of the follicle (which contains the egg) and for ovulation.
A common cause of reduced fertility is when the follicles do not develop sufficiently or when ovulation does not occur. This is the case, for example, in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In that case, Clomid® is used to correct the disturbance in follicle growth and egg maturation.
This medicine is available via the Serpha website.
Cyclogest is a medicine that contains progesterone, a natural hormone that plays a crucial role in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. It supports early pregnancy by preparing the endometrium (lining of the uterus) for implantation and ensures that the uterus continues to provide a suitable environment for the embryo to grow.
It also helps to maintain a stable hormone balance, which is essential for the success of fertility treatments such as IVF. Cyclogest is often prescribed for a progesterone deficiency, which can lead to problems with implantation or an increased risk of miscarriage.
This medicine is available via the Serpha website.
Serpha.nl
The active substance in Decapeptyl® is triptorelin.
Triptorelin is a medicine that belongs to the group of hypothalamic hormones. It suppresses the production of both male and female sex hormones and is prescribed, among other things, in fertility treatments such as IVF, and for endometriosis and fibroids.
In IVF or ICSI treatment, mature eggs are removed from the body for fertilisation. To make this process run as smoothly as possible, ovulation is carefully regulated with medication. Decapeptyl® helps with this by lowering the production of oestrogen and progestogen, which, in combination with other medicines, gives more control over the timing of ovulation.
This medicine is available via the Serpha website.
The active substance in Gonal-F® is follitropin, also known as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). This hormone is produced naturally by the pituitary gland and plays an essential role in reproduction.
Follitropin promotes the growth of follicles, in which eggs mature, and stimulates the ovaries to produce oestrogen. If follicles do not grow sufficiently, Gonal-F® may be prescribed to support this process. For IVF treatment, in which several mature eggs are needed, this medicine is used to stimulate follicle growth. In men, follitropin stimulates the production of sperm cells.
This medicine is available via the Serpha website.
Zivafert contains the active substance human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), a hormone that occurs naturally in the body.
It plays an important role in reproduction by mimicking the action of luteinising hormone (LH). In women, hCG promotes the final maturation of the eggs and triggers ovulation, releasing an egg for fertilisation.
This medicine is available via the Serpha website.
Letrozole is an aromatase inhibitor that blocks the conversion of androgenic hormones into oestrogen. This lowers the oestrogen level in the body.
In fertility treatments, letrozole is used to stimulate ovulation. The drop in oestrogen causes the pituitary gland to produce more follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which promotes the growth and maturation of follicles. This can help women with irregular or absent ovulation.
This medicine is available via the Serpha website.
The active substance in Lucrin® is leuprorelin.
Lucrin® belongs to the group of medicines known as hypothalamic hormones. It suppresses the production of both male and female sex hormones and is prescribed for conditions including endometriosis. In endometriosis, tissue similar to the lining of the uterus is found outside the uterus, for example in the abdominal cavity, around the bowel and the ovaries, but also further away from the uterus. Scarring and adhesions can cause abdominal pain, especially during menstruation, but also before or after.
It can play a role in involuntary childlessness. One in twenty women of reproductive age has endometriosis; among women who are involuntarily childless, this is one in four.
This medicine is available via the Serpha website.
Lutinus® may be prescribed when there is a progesterone deficiency, such as in certain menstrual cycle disorders. It is also prescribed after IVF or ICSI to optimise the endometrium (lining of the uterus) and support implantation of the embryo.
Progesterone is a female sex hormone. Together with oestrogen hormones, it regulates the menstrual cycle. It is mainly active in the second half of the cycle, preparing the uterus for the implantation of a fertilised egg. Progesterone also keeps the uterus in the right condition during pregnancy.
This medicine is available via the Serpha website.
Serpha.nl
The active substance in Menopur® is menotrophin (human menopausal gonadotrophin).
Menopur® is made from the urine of menopausal women. Menopur® contains two types of hormone: follitropin and lutropin. These hormones are produced by the pituitary gland. In women, the combination of follitropin and lutropin is needed for the growth and maturation of the follicle and the release of the egg (ovulation). They also prepare the endometrium (lining of the uterus) for the implantation of a fertilised egg.
In men, follitropin stimulates the production of sperm cells, while lutropin supports the production of male sex hormones.
This medicine is available via the Serpha website.
The active substance in Orgalutran® is ganirelix.
Ganirelix belongs to the group of medicines known as hypothalamic hormones. It suppresses the production of female sex hormones. It is mainly used in IVF and ICSI treatments. Before an egg can be fertilised, it goes through a maturation process. Once the egg is sufficiently developed, it is released during ovulation.
Orgalutran® helps prevent ovulation from happening too early, so that the eggs can mature optimally for the treatment.
This medicine is available via the Serpha website.
Ovaleap® is used to mature eggs for ovulation, a process called ovulation induction. The aim is to grow one or at most two follicles for natural ovulation, whereas in IVF or ICSI treatment medicines are used to mature several eggs.
In a healthy cycle, FSH and LH are produced by the pituitary gland in the brain to stimulate the maturation of follicles and trigger ovulation. Ovaleap® contains luteinising hormone (LH), which is essential for the maturation of the follicles and for ovulation. It works in combination with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which helps the follicles grow.
This medicine is available via the Serpha website.
Ovitrelle® contains hCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin), a pregnancy hormone produced using recombinant DNA technology.
This hormone has an LH-like action, which means that it promotes the maturation and release of eggs. After Ovitrelle® has been given, it stimulates the ovaries to release the mature eggs at ovulation. Ovitrelle® ensures that mature eggs complete their final stage of maturation so that they can be fertilised. In IVF or ICSI, Ovitrelle® is often given before the egg retrieval, while in IUI or natural conception it can help ovulation to take place at the right time.
In addition, hCG stimulates the production of progesterone, an important hormone for supporting the implantation of an embryo.
This medicine is available via the Serpha website.
The active substance in Puregon® is follitropin, a follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).
It is a hormone produced naturally by the pituitary gland. In women, follitropin stimulates the growth of follicles. It also stimulates the ovaries to produce the female sex hormone oestrogen.
If reduced fertility is caused by follicles not growing, the doctor can use Puregon® to stimulate follicle growth. In men, follitropin stimulates the production of sperm cells.
This medicine is available via the Serpha website.
Prolutex® contains the hormone progesterone and is important for supporting early pregnancy.
After ovulation, progesterone prepares the endometrium (lining of the uterus) for the implantation of a fertilised egg. A drop in progesterone normally causes the lining of the uterus to shed, resulting in a period. A progesterone deficiency can hinder the implantation process.
Prolutex® is often prescribed after embryo transfer to increase the chance of a successful pregnancy. It prevents the lining of the uterus from shedding too early, so that the embryo can implant properly.
This medicine is available via the Serpha website.
The active substance in Rekovelle® is follitropin, a recombinant hormone that is identical to natural follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).
FSH is essential for the maturation of eggs in the ovaries. In women with reduced fertility, Rekovelle® is used to stimulate the growth of several follicles, which is needed for IVF or ICSI treatment.
Rekovelle® promotes the production of mature eggs, which can later be retrieved for fertilisation.
This medicine is available via the Serpha website.
The active substance in Synarel® is nafarelin, a synthetic hormone that belongs to the group of GnRH agonists (gonadotrophin-releasing hormone).
It works by blocking the release of certain hormones from the pituitary gland, such as luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). These hormones are important for the production of oestrogen and testosterone.
By reducing these hormones, Synarel® temporarily puts the ovaries into a kind of "resting state". This is often used to reduce the effects of conditions (endometriosis or fibroids) or to suppress the natural cycle during fertility treatments, with the aim of better controlling the treatment cycle.
This medicine is available via the Serpha website.
Utrogestan® contains progesterone. Together with oestrogen hormones, it regulates the menstrual cycle. Progesterone is mainly active in the second half of the cycle, preparing the uterus for the implantation of a fertilised egg. Progesterone also keeps the uterus in the right condition during pregnancy.
Utrogestan® may be prescribed when there is a progesterone deficiency, such as in certain menstrual cycle disorders. It is also prescribed after IVF or ICSI to optimise the endometrium (lining of the uterus) and support implantation of the embryo.
This medicine is available via the Serpha website.
Serpha is our pharmacy where you can order all your fertility medication. You can upload your prescription easily and securely, after which our pharmacy assistants put together your order based on the prescription. In addition to prescribed medication, you can also order individual over-the-counter products.
¹Excluding weekends / public holidays.
