Menopur: Dosage, side effects, uses, interactions, cost, and more
Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Menopur for ovarian stimulation in females using assisted reproductive technology, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or egg freezing. The medication stimulates eggs to grow and mature in your ovaries.
The use of binary terms such as “male” and “female” or “men” and “women” in this article reflects the language of the sources we have used. Unless otherwise noted, it’s unclear whether the research we reference included participants with expansive gender identities.
Menopur is a biologic medication that’s available only as a brand-name medication. It’s not currently available in a biosimilar form.
Biologic medications are made from living cells. It’s not possible to copy these drugs exactly. A generic, on the other hand, refers to drugs made from chemicals. A generic is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. A biosimilar is a drug that’s similar to a brand-name biologic drug (the reference drug).
Biosimilars are considered to be as safe and effective as their reference drug. Like generics, biosimilars tend to cost less than brand-name medications.
The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Menopur comes as a powder or pellet in a vial that’s prepared by mixing with sterile sodium chloride solution. You’ll take the mixed solution by subcutaneous (under the skin) injection. Your doctor or another healthcare professional will teach you how to prepare and administer Menopur yourself at home.
The recommended dosage of Menopur for ovarian stimulation will depend on your individual treatment plan. Be sure to follow the instructions that your doctor gives you.
You’ll typically inject Menopur once per day, starting on day 2 or 3 of your menstrual cycle. (day 1 is the first day of your period.) If you’re not having periods, your doctor will tell you when to start using Menopur.
During treatment, your doctor will monitor you for signs that Menopur is working. They will likely use ultrasound scans to monitor the development of eggs in your ovaries and blood tests to monitor your hormone levels. If needed, your doctor may adjust your dosage of Menopur.
You’ll typically inject Menopur every day until enough mature eggs have developed in your ovaries. This may take up to 20 days. Your doctor will tell you when to stop using Menopur.
After you stop using Menopur, your doctor will likely prescribe a dose of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to trigger ovulation (release of eggs from your ovaries). Your doctor will tell you when to take this and when to go to your clinic to have your eggs collected for freezing or use in IVF.
You should use Menopur by injection just under your skin. Your doctor or another healthcare professional will teach you how to administer Menopur injections yourself at home.
You’ll find detailed instructions for preparing and injecting Menopur in the leaflet that comes with your medication. Further instructions, including a video, are also available on the manufacturer’s website.
You should inject Menopur in your lower abdomen, 1 to 2 inches below your belly button. Switch between the left and right sides of your abdomen each time you inject the medication.
Do not use more Menopur than your doctor recommends. For some drugs, doing so may lead to unwanted side effects or overdose.
If you think you’ve used too much of this drug, call your doctor. You can also call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. However, if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
Menopur can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while using Menopur. These lists do not include all possible side effects.
For more information about the possible side effects of Menopur, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on managing any side effects that may be concerning or bothersome.
Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while using Menopur and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.
Here is a partial list of mild side effects of Menopur. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or view Menopur’s prescribing information.
Most of these side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. However, if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Serious side effects from Menopur aren’t common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 or your local emergency phone number if your symptoms feel life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency.
For some people, Menopur can cause an allergic reaction.
But it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in the drug’s studies.
In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Menopur, your doctor may recommend a different medication instead.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Menopur for certain uses.
Menopur is FDA approved for ovarian stimulation in females using assisted reproductive technology (ART) to help them become pregnant. It’s prescribed for females whose ovaries are able to produce eggs.
ART are fertility treatments that involve working with eggs or embryos. These include methods such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and cryopreservation (egg freezing).
ART can be used to treat infertility (inability to become pregnant after 12 months of regularly having sex without using birth control). A couple may experience infertility if either partner has a problem with their reproductive health.
ART can also be used to preserve your ability to become pregnant in the future. For example, you may want to delay your option to become pregnant due to a medical diagnosis or your life circumstances. In this case you may wish to freeze your eggs for future use.
Menopur is used in ART to stimulate multiple eggs to grow and mature in your ovaries. When enough mature eggs have developed in your ovaries, your doctor will collect them for freezing or use in IVF.
For this purpose, Menopur may be prescribed on its own or with other drugs used in ART. Examples of other ART drugs that doctors may prescribe with Menopur include urofollitropin (Bravelle) and chorionic gonadotropin (Pregnyl, Novarel).
Menopur is not approved for any uses in children.
Menopur is not known to interact with other medications, herbs, supplements, foods, or alcohol. The manufacturer of Menopur didn’t look at interactions in clinical trials of the drug.
However, this doesn’t mean that interactions won’t be recognized in the future. For example, new drugs could be approved that interact with Menopur.
Before starting Menopur treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you take. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
As with all medications, the cost of Menopur can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.
Financial and insurance assistance: If you need financial support to pay for Menopur or help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. Talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or fertility treatment center.
Generic or biosimilar version: Menopur is a biologic medication that’s available only as a brand-name medication. It’s not currently available in generic or biosimilar form.
Biologic medications are made from living cells. It’s not possible to copy these drugs exactly. A generic, on the other hand, refers to drugs made from chemicals. A generic is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. A biosimilar is a drug that’s similar to a brand-name biologic drug (the reference drug).
Like generics, biosimilars tend to cost less than brand-name medications.
Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Menopur, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.
If you can become pregnant, consider the following information about pregnancy, birth control, and breastfeeding.
Menopur is used as part of assisted reproductive technology (ART) to help you become pregnant. If you are already pregnant, you should not use Menopur. Menopur can cause fetal harm if used during pregnancy.
Menopur is not known to cause fetal harm if you become pregnant after using it. However, there may be a slightly higher risk of congenital anomalies (commonly known as birth defects) in infants who are conceived through ART than in those who are conceived naturally. This is thought to be related to factors other than the drugs used in ART.
With ART, you may also have a raised risk of loss of pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, and multiple pregnancy (twins or more).
If you have questions or concerns about the risks associated with ART, talk with your doctor.
Menopur is used as part of fertility treatment to help you become pregnant. Your doctor may prescribe birth control pills before you start using Menopur. This can help with scheduling your fertility treatment. It can also help more eggs to develop and mature in response to Menopur.
If your doctor prescribes birth control pills, they will explain when to start and stop taking them before using Menopur.
Menopur should not be used while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before using this medication. Your doctor may suggest a different treatment for your condition or recommend other ways to feed a child who is breastfed.
Menopur is used for ovarian stimulation in females using assisted reproductive technology, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or egg freezing.
Menopur contains menotropins, which is a mix of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). These hormones are usually released from your pituitary gland. They play key roles in the menstrual cycle, including stimulating eggs to grow and mature in the ovaries.
Menopur works by stimulating multiple eggs to grow and mature in your ovaries. When your doctor determines enough eggs have matured in your ovaries, they will usually prescribe a dose of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to trigger ovulation (release of eggs from your ovaries). You’ll then go to your clinic to have your eggs collected for freezing or use in IVF.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Menopur.
No, Menopur is not the same as Follistim. However, these medications are similar.
Menopur contains menotropins, which is a mix of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Follistim contains follitropin beta, which is a form of FSH.
Menopur and Follistim both belong to a group of medications called gonadotrophins. Both can be used for ovarian stimulation as part of fertility treatment. Follistim also has other uses in fertility treatment. These medications can cause similar side effects.
You can talk with your doctor about which of these medications may be right for you.
You should store Menopur in a refrigerator or at room temperature between 37ºF to 77ºF (3ºC to 25ºC). Keep the vial in the box it comes in to protect the medication from light.
After preparing Menopur, the injection should be administered right away. Don’t keep Menopur that has been mixed for future use.
Before using Menopur, discuss your health history with your doctor. Menopur may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:
Note: For more information about the potential negative effects of Menopur, see the “Menopur side effects” section.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.