Cairns IVF clinics

We are a chinese Medicine Clinic and Acupuncture Clinic with a special interest in fertility, pregnancy and labour.   Cairns Acupuncture and Tanya Galvin may be able to assist your conception and work in with your IVF clinic or your fertility clinic! 0408 054 538.

Cairns IVF Clinic – Western Fertility Drugs

The following are some of the most commonly prescribed Western drugs in assisted reproductive technology clinics.

Cairns IVF clinics

Cairns IVF clinics

Pergonal

Cairns IVF clinics pergonal® is a natural product containing both human psH and LH, 75 or 150 international units of each per ampule, plus 10mg lactoseThis material is extracted from the urine of postmenopausal women, carefully purified and then freeze-dried in sterile glass ampules where it is sealed until used, pergonal was the first drug using the hormones p$H and LH. Since then, numerous drugs similar to Pergonal have come on the market. These drugs include Metrodin®, Humegon.CE), come on the market. These drugs include Metrodin®, Humegoncg?* in how they are made and how they are administered. However, the comments concerning monitoring, risks, and other concerns are all the same regardless of which drug is used.

Pergonal is used to either induce or correct abnormalities of ovulation in women where other methods have been ineffective. It is also used to treat those women who are infertile, who have not conceived, and for whom in vitro fertilization would be the next step. This technique, called “controlled ovarian hyperstimulatioiT or COH> is often effec tive, particularly in couples with “minimal abnormality infertility, such as early endometriosis or similar problems. Cairns IVF clinics

To control ovulation in a normal menstrual cycle, the pituitary gland produces two hormones: FSH and LH. Pergonal is nothing more than a mixture of those two hormones. It is the natural hormones produced a woman’s pituitary gland. In a normal menstrual cycle, there controls set up by the body to make sure that the number of eggs duced is limited (usually only one) and that the egg’s maturity is optimum. The administration of Pergonal bypasses your body’s natural control systems. Artificial control mechanisms must, therefore, be sutr stituted and strict monitoring is necessary to reduce the likelihood of complications such as multiple pregnancies or hyperstimulation. Cairns IVF clinics

Because of the nature of the drug, it cannot be taken by mouth. The drug must, therefore, be given by injection, pergonal injections are started on the 3^rd day of the menstrual cycle. To insure maximum safety and efficiency of pergonal, therapy must be constantly and carefully monitored. This is done using a combination of hormone levels and ly monitored. This is done using a combination of hormone levels and the follicles within the ovary are monitored. Without such monitoring, Pergonal therapy can be dangerous.

Repronex

Repronex® (menotropins for injection) is a purified preparation of gonadotropins extracted from the urine of postmenopausal women. Each vial of Repronex contains 75 or 150 IU of pSH activity and 75 or 150 IU of LH activity. Repronex is administered by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. Repronex, in conjunction with hCG, is indicated for multiple follicular development (controlled ovarian stimuladon) and ovulation induction in patients who have previously received pituitary suppression. Repronex is contraindicated in women who have:

A high Fsf^ level indicating primary ovarian failure

2. Uncontrolled thyroid and adrenal dysfunction

3. An organic intracranial lesion such as a pituitary tumor

4. The presence of any cause of infertility other than anovulation unless they are candidates for in vitro fertilization

5. Abnormal bleeding of undetermined origin

6. Ovarian cysts or enlargement not due to polycystic ovary syndrome

7. Prior hypersensitivity to menotropins

Cairns IVF clinics

Follistim

Fcjllistimd) (follitropin beta for injection) is the first recombinant foilicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to receive ppA approval in the United States for induction of ovulation in women experiencing anovulation absence of ovulation) and in women undergoing assisted repro’ ductive technology (ART) procedures. PoUistim was studied in the world’s largest randomized in vitro fertilization study ever conducted. The study included 981 women undergoing Ivf at 18 centers throughout Europe. The results demonstrated that f ollistim is “safe and effective.» follistim acts like naturally produced FSH by stimulating the development of follicles within the ovary. It binds to the psH receptors located on the surface of small granulosa cells surrounding the immature follicle and oocyte. However; Fc^stim does not induce ovulation. Ovulation to occur; therapy with Follistim is followed by a single administration of 5,000 to 10,000 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The dosage range for pollistim is 75-600 l\j daily depending on the patient’s response, follistim may be administered either subcutaneously or intramuscularly. Although pollistim may cause certain adverse effects, the incidence of these events is relatively low and similar to that of other fSH-containing infertility products.

Clomid

Clomid® (clomiphene citrate, serophene) is a synthetic drug which This, in turn, prompts the pituitary to release more LH and fSH and thus increases the stimulation of the ovary to begin to produce a mature egg. Clomid is a good first choice drug when a woman’s ovaries are capable of func tioning normally and when her hypothalamus and pituitary are also capable of producing their hormones. Structurally similar to estrogen? Clomid binds to the sites in the brain where estrogen normally attach’ called estrogen receptors. Once these receptor sites are filled with clomiphene, they cannot bind with natural estrogen circulating in the blood and they are fooled into thinking that the amount of estrc gen in the blood is too low. In response, the hypothalamus releases more GnRH, causing the pituitary to pump out more p$H which then causes a follicle to grow to produce more estrogen and start maturin an egg to prepare for ovulation. Typically, a woman taking Clomid produces double or triple the amount of estrogen in that cycle compared to pretreatment cycles. Cairns IVF clinics

A woman is menstruating, even if irregularly, Clomid is usually effective, particularly if she develops follicles that are not reaching normal . Usually* a mature follicle is about 20 millimeters in diameter about the size of a small grape just before it ruptures and releases its egg. Clomid may help small,immature follicles grow to maturity* Clomid is also often effective for a woman with luteal phase defect (LPD). A woman with Lpp may begin the ovulation process properly* but her ovarian function becomes disrupted, resulting in low production of the hormone progesterone in the luteal phase of the menstrual of the hormone progesterone in the luteal phase ot the menstrual mone needed to prepare the uterine lining for implantation of the fertilized egg which has divided and entered the uterine cavity* A fall in progesterone levels in the blood during this critical time can interfere with early embryo implantation or, even if a fertilized egg has already with early embryo implantation or, even if a fertilized egg Jtias already implanted, cause a woman to menstruate too ) early and end a pregnancy within a few days after implantation.

If a woman responds to Clomid and develops a mature follicle (determined by adequate estrogen production and ultrasound examination) but has no LH surge by cycle day 15. then injection of hCG, which acts like LH, can be given to stimulate final egg maturation and follicle rup* like LH,can be given to stimulate final egg maturation and follicle rup’ hours after the LH surge or hCG injection. This can be confirmed by hours after the LH surge or hCG injection. This can be confirmed by further ultrasound scans. If a woman does not ovulate after taking one Clomid tablet for five days, then her doctor will usually double the ly dose to two tablets (1 Oomg) in her next cycle, and, if she still does not respond, then triple the daily dose to 150itig or add another fertilSome doctors increase the dose up to 250nig a day, but this is not recommended W either of the drug’s two manufacturers, ^omen tend to have side effects much more frequently at higher doses. If the dose of clomiphene is too high, the uterine lining may not respond completely to estrogen and progesterone stimulation and may not develop properly* As a result, a woman’s fertilized egg may not be able to implant in her uterus.

Because Clomid binds to estrogen receptors, including the estrogen receptors in the cervix, it can interfere with the ability of the cervical receptors in the cervix, it can interfere with the ability ot the cervical Only “hostile” or dry cervical mucus may develop in the days precedovulation. If this occurs, adding a small amount of estrogen beginning on cycle day 10 and continuing until the LH surge may enhance cervical mucus production. Some women taking Clomid experience hot flashes and premenstrual-type symptoms, such as migraines and breast discomfort (particularly if they have fibrocystic disease of the breasts). Visual symptoms, such as spots, flashes, or blurry vision, are common and indicate that treatment should stop. Cairns IVF clinics

HCG

hCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin, a polypeptide hormone produced by the human placenta. It is composed of an alpha and a beta subunit. The alpha subunit is essentially identical to the alpha luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (psH)> as well as to the alpha The beta subunits of these hormones differ in amino acid sequence. It is used in fertility clinics to help stimulate the release of the egg. HcG is con’ traindicated in precocious puberty, prostatic carcinoma, or other traindicated in precocious puberty, prostatic carcinoma, or otner tion to hCG.

Prednisolone

prednisolone is a cortisone-like drug which is sold in North America under a wide variety of names as well as being available as a generic in the tj.5. And Canada. It is effective for relief of a wide variety of inflanv matory and allergic disorders and is also effective in suppressing immunity. In the fertility clinic, it is used to suppress the immune system and, therefore, increase implantation as long as there is no antibody problem. Cairns IVF clinics

Estradiol

Estradiol is one of the estrogens or female sex hormones. Some of its include EstraceCg), Estratab®, Gynetone®pMS-Estradiol®, premarin®. In the fertility clinic, estradiol is used to help endometrium become thicker for implantation and for the prevention of miscarriage, especially in women using an egg donor.

Progesterone

progesterone is one of the steroid hormones. It is secreted by the corProgesterone is one ot the steroiu normones. It is secreted <1 by the corpus luteum and by the placenta and is responsible for preparing the body for pregnancy and, if pregnancy occurs, maintaining it until birth. Like all steroids, it is a small hydrophobic molecule. Thus it dif. Fuses freely through the plasma membrane of all cells. However, in target cells, like those of the endometrium, it becomes tightly bound to a cytoplasmic protein, the progesterone receptor. Then the complex of receptor and its hormone moves into the nucleus where it binds to a progesterone response element. The progesterone response element is a specific sequence of pNA in the promoters of certain genes that is needed to turn those genes on (or off). Thus, the complex of progesterone with its receptor forms a transcription factor. In the fertility clinic, exogenous or supplemental progesterone is delivered by intramuscular (IJM) injection or by vaginal suppository.

Progesterone is an important hormone in preventing miscarriage. Without adequate progesterone, the uterine lining will remain rigid? Thereby* making pregnancy difficult to achieve. The lack of normal progesterone production by the ovaries in the second half of the menstrual cycle is called luteal phase defect, \fcfomen who have this defect either are unable to have their fertilized eggs implant in their uterine lining or, if the egg is implanted, ;d, it is so weak that miscarriage is a certain outcome.

Baby Aspirin

A study, which was conducted by following the history of over 1,000 women, has indicated that women who suffer unexplained late recurrent miscarriages may benefit from a daily? Low dose aspirin (acety lsalicylic acid, 75mg tablet). The birth rate in this group was 65% coinpared with 499^ in the womenwho did not take aspirin. Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome is a clinical sequence of events that affects clotting and may cause recurrent pregnancy loss and platelets, fwo autoantibodies are involved in this condition: the lupas anticoagulant (LAC) and anticardiolipin antibody (ACA). Someclinianticoagulant (Lal) and anticardiolipinantibody (AC.A). Some clim dans are convinced that antiphospholipid antibodies are associated heparin to improve the rate of pregnancy- In the treatment of recurrent miscarriage, where ACA and/or LAC is suspected, it has been found miscarriage^ whe rc ACA and/or I4C is suspected, it has been found Moderate severity of disease is more responsive to aspirin therapy than are the more severe cases. Baby aspirin is used because of its smaller dosage. Cairns IVF clinics

Antagon

Antagon Injection® (ganirelix acetate) is used to inhibit premature ovulation in women undergoing fertility procedures. It prevents the ovulation in women undergoing fertility procedures. It prevents the ovarian hyperstimulation as a part of specific infertility treatments ovarian hyperstimulation as a part of specific infertility treatments ulation of the growth of multiple follicles with gonadotropins, such as follicle-stimulating hormone (p$H), a rise in LH at too early a time follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), a rise in LH at too early a time pregnant. In general, there are two types of treatment regimens used to avoid an early rise in LH: GnRH-agonists and GnRH-antagonists. Antagon is a GnRH-antagonist that has the ability to rapidly inhibit lH release instantaneously. It achieves quickly what GnRH-agonists can take 2-3 weeks to do and is, therefore, only required during the final days of stimulation. However, women who have experienced a hypersensitivity reaction to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) hypersensitivity reaction to gonadotropin-reieasing hormone (GnRH) they are pregnant should not use Antagon. The most frequent side effects of Antagon are abdominal pain, fetal death, and headache. Cairns IVF clinics

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