Merional Description

A doctor may recommend injections of Merional to increase the chances of parenthood for women who are dealing with infertility issues. Merional contains a hormone called human menopausal gonadotropin (Menotropins) which is an even mix of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) that is extracted from the urine of post-menopausal women and purified. The combination of these two hormones is essential for the development of eggs your ovaries produce. Your doctor or healthcare worker will demonstrate how and where to properly inject Merional so you can do it in the comfort of your own home.

Going Through Hormone Treatments for Infertility

Your treatment for infertility can start any time that you are not ovulating. Merional is injected into the tissue layer between your skin and muscle or directly into a muscle. The course of injections will be carried out daily for seven to twelve days each month until it is shown that your eggs have matured.

Your doctor or fertility specialist will then administer a different hormone called human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in order to cause ovulation to occur approximately 36 hours after the injection. This is when you can decide to engage in sexual intercourse or undergo intrauterine insemination. Your fertility doctor will discuss any further procedures and you can select the best one that will improve your chance for becoming pregnant.

Some Risk Factors That Can Cause Infertility

One of the reasons why some women turn to fertility treatments is due to a hormonal disorder called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) which affects approximately 5-10% of all women and is named because of the number of small cysts that are found in the ovaries. However, these cysts are also found in women that do not have PCOS. This disorder causes ovulation to become irregular which greatly interferes with the ability to conceive. Age can also be a factor as more and more women are delaying starting a family until they are settled into a career or are more financially capable of providing for a family.

Before You Administer Merional

Test to be certain that you are not pregnant before starting the assisted reproductive technology (ART) program as Merional can be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not start Merional if you are nursing as it is not known if Merional is excreted into breast milk. Discuss other medical conditions or allergies you have and list any OTC and Rx meds you take, including herbal remedies and vitamin supplements. This allows your doctor to determine if Merional is safe for your situation.

Merional Precautions and Risks

You should not attempt to inject Merional on your own unless you are confident that you know how and where to inject it. Consult with your doctor about the risks involved with fertility treatments, such as the higher risk of an ectopic pregnancy or having a multiple birth. Do not skip lab tests or doctor exams as these are for checking hormone levels and to determine when you have a mature egg so you can begin the next step.

Possible Side Effects of Merional

• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Stomach cramps
• Minor oozing at injection site
• Irritation or bruising at injection site

Drugs Similar to Merional

• Serophene
• Menopur
• Bravelle