Mixture of human menopausal gonadotropins containing follicle stimulating hormone made by Organon; virtually equivalent to Pergonal.

(FSH) The hormone, or gonadotropin, produced by the pituitary gland that in women stimulates the tertiary follicle to grow; in men it stimulates spermatogenesis. Obtained from human sources in a mixture with luteinising hormone (LH) as (1) human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG), extracted from the urine of women who have been through the menopause (Humegon, Metrodin and Pergonal); and (2) human pituitary gonadotropin (hPG), from human pituitary glands removed at autopsies (now obsolete). Today, pure FSH is made synthetically with gene technology (recombinant FSH), such as Gonal-F and Puregon.

Recombinant follicle stimulating hormone made by Organon. Called Puregon in Europe, Australia and Asia. On an equivalent dose basis, produces serum FSH that are somewhat slower to rise than with the use of hMG preparations, but which are ultimately higher: in other words, follicles and serum estradiol levels take a little longer to respond than they do to Humegon, but the number of mature, preovulatory follicles available for egg retrieval is the same or more. I find that 200 U (units) of Puregon per day produces a similar result to 225 U of Humegon or Metrodin. Generically known as follitropin beta.

(hMG) A mixture of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH) extracted for therapeutic use from the urine of menopausal women (women after the menopause normally produce these hormones in high concentration). Marketed as Humegon (Organon) and Pergonal (Serono). Metrodin (Serono) is hMG from which LH has been removed, and Metrodin HP (Serono) is Metrodin from which other urinary proteins have been removed too, resulting in very pure FSH. Ferring market a highly purified hMG containing both FSH and LH, but not in Australia (see Menogon or Repronex). No cases of transmitted (infectious) disease have been recorded after the use of hMG preparations, unlike human pituitary gonadotropin.

Mixture of human menopausal gonadotropins containing follicle stimulating hormone made by Serono; virtually equivalent to Humegon.

Recombinant follicle stimulating hormone made by Organon. Called Follistim in US. On an equivalent dose basis, produces serum FSH that are somewhat slower to rise than with the use of hMG preparations, but which are ultimately higher: in other words, follicles and serum estradiol levels take a little longer to respond than they do to Humegon, but the number of mature, preovulatory follicles available for egg retrieval is the same or more. Professor Jansen, medical director of SIVF, notes that 200 U (units) of Puregon per day produces a similar result to 225 U of Humegon or Metrodin. Generically known as follitropin beta.