(Last Updated On: July 12, 2022)

The term in-vitro means ‘in glass’ and fertilization refers to the fertilization of matured eggs collected from women’s ovaries by sperm in laboratory settings. IVF is one of the most widely used technology for reproduction and is mostly opted by patients with infertility and other reproductive problem. The babies born through this technology are termed ‘test-tube babies’ but the procedure is usually performed in a petri dish where the eggs are fertilized. 

The three steps involved in IVF are as follows: Ovarian Stimulation- In the IVF cycle it involves stimulation of ovaries to produce multiple eggs; egg retrieval, Sperm retrieval followed by fertilization and embryo transfer. The entire process of IVF takes 3-4 weeks. 

What is Menopur?

Menopur is an injectable drug that is prescribed to women undergoing IVF treatment. Menopur cost is budget-friendly and also one of the most recommended drugs for stimulation of ovaries. It is given during the stage of ovarian stimulation and contains follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). It is given with other treatments and is continued for at least five days. The injection can also be taken at home under close monitoring.

Storage of Menopur:

Menopur injections can be stored at room temperatures between 15⁰C- 25⁰ C or for longer storage they can be refrigerated at 2⁰C-4⁰C. After the solutions have been mixed the injection should be used as soon as possible.

Side-effects:

Like all drugs menopur also have some minor side effects like abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, breast pain and soaring around the injection site. However, if major side effects like abdominal cramps, difficulty and tightening of the chest are observed the treatment should be stopped and the patient needs to be treated immediately.

Menopur result:

Patients using menopur have a higher chance of getting pregnant in comparison to other fertility drugs available on the market. 

Missed dose: What to do?

If a menopur dose is missed it is recommended to repeat the dose as soon as possible preferably on the same day. However, the same needs to be done after consultation with the concerned doctor.

In-vitro fertilization, though it is one of the most used reproductive techniques has its own set of demerits or risks like:

1. Multiple births: There are chances where more than one embryo is formed and transferred into the woman. This carries the risk of early labour and further complications in babies.  
2. Premature births; There are cases where IVF babies are delivered earlier than normal babies thus, they have a low weight.
3. The chances of miscarriage are higher in case of IVF than in normal pregnancies as a result extra care should be taken. Moreover, the risk increases with the increased age of the mother. 
4. The process of retrieval of the egg is complex and can be performed only after sedating the patient. It is usually done by experts.
5. A birth defect is another complication that comes with the use of IVF. It usually depends on the age of the mother; with increasing age the chance of defect also increases. 

Like menopur, Gonal f is also an injectable drug used in IVF treatment. In any case, doctors can best advise which is better. And you can also ask for gonal f cost to make the comparison.