Follitropin alfa - fol-li-TROE-pin AL-fa is a hormone identical to follicle-stimulating hormone - FSH produced by the pituitary gland. FSH helps to develop eggs in the ovaries.
Follitropin alfa is using as a fertility drug to develop eggs in women who have not been able to become pregnant because of problems in ovulation. Always many women wanting to become pregnant will use this drug while enrolled in a fertility program - assisted reproductive technology "ART " that uses procedures such as in vitro fertilization - IVF or embryo transfer - ET. Follitropin alfa may be using with other medication for these purposes.
Follitropin alfa is also using as a fertility drug to help men with low sperm counts produce more sperms. Treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin must come before treat with follitropin alfa. This pretreat elevates the amount of testosterone to the correct level. Treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin must continue as long as follitropin alfa is being using.
Some diseaseds may be treated with another hormone called gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist - GnRHa before starting treat with follitropin alfa. GnRHa reduces the amount of FSH released from the pituitary gland. This is done so that the family doctor can replace their FSH with follitropin alfa in the proper amounts each day to achieve fertility.
This drug is available only with your family doctor's prescription, in the following dosage form - s:
Some commonly using brand names are:
In the USA
† Not commercially available in Canada.