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Join Our Team - Employment Opportunities Available Patient Forms Read Our BlogThe Muasher Center
for Fertility and IVF
8501 Arlington Boulevard, Suite 500
Fairfax, Virginia 22031
Ph. 703.542.3610
Fx. 703.876.6317
Se Habla Espanol
Fertility Drugs
hCG- Pregnyl®, Profasi, Ovidrel (r-hCG)
The hormonal events of the menstrual cycle are complex and interrelated. FSH causes the development of the follicles and as the follicles mature levels of estrogen rise eventually signaling the release of a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH), which stimulates ovulation (release of the egg from the follicle).
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is normally produced by the placenta and is measured to determine if pregnancy has occurred. However, the ovulatory response can trigger a surge of hCG in the same manner as LH.
During FSH stimulated cycles, patients receive either Antagon or Lupron for down regulation. These products essentially "block" the natural production of LH and FSH so ovulation cannot occur without an external stimulus. This is critically important because if ovulation occurs before the eggs are mature, and retrieval is scheduled, the cycle could be "lost".
hCG is administered by injection 36-38 hours prior to the scheduled retrieval to stimulate the ovulatory response. Pregnyl® and Profasi are human derived products and Ovidrel is "pure" being produced from genetic recombinant technology. Dr. Muasher prefers Ovidrel because it is administered subcutaneously and can be given by the patient.
Birth Control Pills
Birth control pills contain both estrogen and progesterone and reduce the natural production of FSH and LH. When starting an IVF cycle, it is important that no follicles are left over from a previous cycle (functional cyst). We sometimes administer a cycle of birth control pills prior to an IVF cycle to insure that no "leftover cyst" will be present.