Menotropins - men-oh-TROE-pins are a mixture of follicle-stimulating hormone - FSH and luteinizing hormone - LH that are naturally produced by the pituitary gland.
Use in females FSH is primarily responsible for stimulating growth of the ovarian follicle, which includes the developing egg, the cells surrounding the egg that produce the hormones needed to support a pregnancy and the fluid around the egg. As the follicle grows, an increasing amount of the hormone estrogen is produced by the cells in the follicle and released into the bloodstream. Estrogen causes the endometrium - lining of the uterus to thicken before ovulation occurs. The higher blood levels of estrogen will also tell the hypothalamus and pituitary gland to slow the production and release of FSH.
LH also helps to increase the amount of estrogen produced by the follicle cells. However, its main function is to cause ovulation. The sharp rise in the blood level of LH that triggers ovulation is called the LH surge. After ovulation, the group of hormone-producing follicle cells become the corpus luteum, which will produce estrogen and large amounts of another hormone, progesterone. Progesterone causes the endometrium to mature so that it can support implantation of the fertilized egg or embryo. If implantation of a fertilized egg does not occur, the levels of estrogen and progesterone decrease, the endometrium sloughs off and menstruation occurs.
Menotropins are usually given in combination with human chorionic gonadotropin - hCG. The actions of hCG are almost the same as those of LH. It is given to simulate the natural LH surge. This results in ovulation at an expected time.
Many women choosing treat with menotropins have already tried clomiphene - Serophene and have not been able to conceive yet. Menotropins may also be using to cause the ovary to produce few follicles, which can then be harvested for use in gamete intrafallopian transfer - GIFT or fertilization - IVF.
Use in males Menotropins are using to stimulate the production of sperm in some forms of male infertility.
Menotropins are to be given only by or under the supervision of your family doctor. It is available in the following dosage form:
Some commonly using brand names are:
In the USA
In Canada
Other commonly using names are human menopausal gonadotropins - hMG , human gonadotropins , and menotrophin .