To increase the chance of success, and to make management of the treatment cycle easier both for you and the medical team, we use a combination of drugs at St Helier Hospital's assisted conception unit:
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GnRH analogues e.g. Buserelin - suppresses the female hormones by acting on the Pituitary gland. It works by "switching off" the ovaries and allowing the medics control over the menstrual cycle.
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GnRH antagonists e.g. Cetrorelix - this works by acting on the Pituitary gland to prevent early release of eggs.
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Follicle Stimulation Hormone (FSH) - stimulates the production of a number of eggs in the ovaries.
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Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) or Luteinising Hormone (LH) - ripens the eggs so that they are capable of being fertilised.
Other medication, such as Clomiphene and Tamoxifen may be used in ovulation induction and sometimes in Intra-uterine insemination (IUI).
Your GP or the practise nurse may be willing to give you the injections, but the most convenient arrangement is for either your partner, or a relative, or a friend to do it for you. Our assisted conception nurses are happy to show you how to administer the injections, and we can also supply you with the needles and syringes, as well as a special container for the disposal of used needles.
Please note that these drugs are not included in the cost of the IVF treatment programme, whether funded by your PCT or by you. Some GPs may be willing to fund the drugs and may write you an NHS prescription, which is subject to charges. If self-funding, you will have to purchase the drugs using a private prescription.
