Parlodel (bromocriptine)
Prolactin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates the development of breast milk and inhibits ovulation. This is why menses often cease while a woman is breast-feeding. Artificially high levels of prolactin can cause anovulation (lack of ovulation) and bromocriptine is often effective in lowering prolactin.
High prolactin levels are sometimes caused by a tumor (usually benign) on the pituitary gland, which can often be treated surgically. Once prolactin levels are normalized, patients typically respond very well to treatment and subsequent pregnancy results are excellent. Parlodel can produce side effects including nausea, headache, fatigue, dizziness and others.
Progesterone
Progesterone is a hormone produced by the ovaries during the menstrual cycle and the placenta after conception to help prepare the uterus to accept and support an embryo and later the fetus. The structure on the ovary which initially produces progesterone is the corpus luteum. It is a gland composed of tissue from the ruptured follicle.
Progesterone causes the lining of the endometrium to thicken and increases its blood supply. Progesterone is administered to women undergoing assisted reproductive procedures (IVF) because drugs (FSH) used during the cycle interfere with progesterone production. After a pregnancy has been established, the placenta produces progesterone. Side effects of progesterone can include moodiness, fluid retention, depression, irritability, and hypoglycemia.
Ovidrel, Pregnyl (hCG)
Ovidrel is used to trigger ovulation in women with infertility due to anovulation and to promote final maturation of eggs in the ovaries of women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART), such as in-vitro fertilization. Ovidrel is unique in that it is a pure product derived from new cellular drug DNA recombinant production techniques. Pregnyl (hCG) is a natural product derived from the urine of pregnant women and it contains impurities not found in Ovidrel. Women who are undergoing IVF with a GnRH agonist or a GnRH antagonist cannot ovulate until hCG or LH (Luveris) is administered. This prevents ovulation of the eggs before they can be retrieved and fertilized in the embryology laboratory.
Luveris (LH)
Luveris is genetically engineered pure luteinizing hormone (LH). LH is normally produced by the pituitary gland in response to stimulation by gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH).
Some LH is required for follicular development. Luveris may be added to stimulation cycles in an attempt to improve egg and embryo quality. LH also initiates ovulation through a "surge" in its levels" once the follicles are mature.
Luveris can be used in place of hCG to initiate ovulation and in women who have severe deficiencies of FSH and LH. It is administered by subcutaneous injection.
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