Follitropin Alfa
About Follitropin Alfa
Follitropin Alfa belongs to a group of medicines called ‘fertility drugs' used to treat infertility. It belongs to the family of hormones called ‘gonadotropins’ that are involved in reproduction and fertility. When a woman cannot become pregnant within a year of trying, then the condition is called female infertility. If a woman gets pregnant but experiences miscarriages or stillbirths, it is also included in infertility. It is also used to treat hypogonadism in men.
Follitropin Alfa contains ‘Follitropin alfa’, which acts by developing and ripening several follicles (containing an egg) and inducing the ovulation procedure (releasing an egg from the ovary). An egg must be released from the ovary to get fertilised by a sperm cell to get pregnant. In infertile men, Follitropin Alfa is used along with other medicines to help produce sperm.
You should use this medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The common side-effects of Follitropin Alfa are headache, ovarian cysts (sacks of fluid within the ovaries), vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, and local reactions at the injection site. These side effects are usually mild and temporary. However, inform your doctor immediately if any of these side effects persist or get worse.
Inform your doctor if you have a known allergy to Follitropin alfa or any contents present in it. Follitropin Alfa is not recommended for women with ovarian cysts, unexplained vaginal bleeding, cancer in ovaries, womb, or breasts that have a tumour. And Follitropin Alfa is not recommended for males with damaged testicles that cannot be healed. Follitropin Alfa is not recommended for use in children. Do not use Follitropin Alfa if you are a pregnant and breastfeeding woman. Follitropin Alfa may interact with alcohol and worsen your health condition. Follitropin Alfa may not affect your ability to drive.
Uses of Follitropin Alfa
Medicinal Benefits
Follitropin Alfa contains ‘Follitropin alfa’ used to treat fertility problems (usually given along with other medicines). It develops and ripens several follicles (containing eggs necessary for fertilization) in women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (a procedure that helps to get pregnant). It also helps to induce the ovulation procedure (releasing an egg from the ovary) in women who are suffering from anovulation (who cannot produce eggs) and oligo-ovulation (who produce few eggs). Follitropin Alfa helps to stimulate healthy ovaries for the production of eggs. In males, it helps replenish the deficient testosterone (anabolic steroid and primary sex hormone in males) levels and helps produce sperm cells.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Follitropin Alfa
- Headache
- Sacs of fluid within the ovaries (ovarian cysts)
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhoea
- Pain or redness at the injection site
Drug Warnings
Follitropin Alfa may cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a condition in which ovarian follicles develop too much and become large cysts. If you notice abnormal pain, rapid weight gain, difficulty breathing, or feel sick, inform your doctor immediately, as it may be a sign of OHSS. Follitropin Alfa may increase the risk of multiple pregnancies (pregnant with more than one child at the same time), birth defects, ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the womb), and miscarriage. So, your doctor may advise you to undergo certain blood tests and ultrasounds throughout the treatment to identify if you have developed any above-mentioned risks associated with Follitropin Alfa. Before taking Follitropin Alfa, inform your doctor if you have a history of blood clots in the legs, lungs, or heart attack. Follitropin Alfa may increase the risk of blood clots and worsen your existing clots. Also, inform your doctor if you have undergone multiple regimens for infertility treatment, as Follitropin Alfa may increase the risk of tumours in the ovaries and other sex organs. Inform your doctor immediately if your skin becomes fragile and easily blistered or if you have stomach, arm, or leg pain after taking Follitropin Alfa. Follitropin Alfa is not recommended for women with primary ovarian failure (ovaries no longer produce eggs properly).
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Follitropin Alfa may interact with a medicine used to treat irregular menstrual periods (gonadorelin).
Drug-Food Interactions: No interactions found.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Follitropin Alfa should not be used in patients with adrenal dysfunction, thyroid dysfunction, ovarian cysts (fluid-filled sacs in ovaries), and tumours of ovaries, womb, or breast.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
consult your doctorIt is unknown whether Follitropin Alfa interacts with alcohol. Please consult your doctor.
Pregnancy
unsafeDo not use Follitropin Alfa if you are pregnant. You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment.
Breast Feeding
unsafeDo not use Follitropin Alfa if you are breastfeeding.
Driving
safeFollitropin Alfa may not affect your ability to drive.
Liver
cautionIf you have a pre-existing or a history of liver disease, inform your doctor before receiving Follitropin Alfa.
Kidney
cautionIf you have a pre-existing or a history of kidney disease, inform your doctor before receiving Follitropin Alfa. Your doctor may adjust the dose of this medicine or prescribe a suitable alternative based on your condition.
Children
unsafeFollitropin Alfa is not recommended for use in children.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Do regular exercise and physical activity. Maintain a healthy weight. Besides this, weight-bearing exercises can help in making your bones strong. Aerobics, yoga, and activities like tai chi may help in relaxing the body and mind.
- Consume a healthy diet, including food rich in antioxidants, fibre-rich foods, and high-fat dairy. Cut down on carbs or limit refined carbs.
- Try to be stress-free to improve your mood swings due to hormonal fluctuations.
- Limit caffeine intake.
- Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption, as these can be risk factors for female infertility.
Special Advise
If you undergo a pregnancy test (blood or urine test) within 10 days of using Follitropin Alfa, there may be a chance of a false-positive test result.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Female Infertility: When a woman cannot become pregnant within a year of trying without the use of contraception, then the condition is called female infertility. If a woman gets pregnant but experiences miscarriages or stillbirths, it is also included in infertility. It can occur due to ovulation disorders (problems with ovaries), fallopian tube damage, and uterus or cervix problems. The risk factors can be age, being overweight or obese, smoking, alcoholism, and the presence of sexually transmitted infections.
Hypogonadism: It is a condition in which the gonads (testes in men and ovaries in women) produce insufficient sex hormones. Sex hormones are responsible for secondary sexual characteristics. This mainly occurs due to autoimmune disorders, genetic disorders, severe infections, pituitary disorders, and inflammatory diseases.
FAQs
Follitropin Alfa is used to treat female infertility.
Follitropin Alfa contains ‘Follitropin alfa’, which develops and ripens several follicles (containing an egg) and induces the ovulation procedure (releasing an egg from the ovary). An egg must be released from the ovary to get fertilized by a sperm cell to get pregnant.
If you undergo a blood or urine test to detect pregnancy within 10 days of using Follitropin Alfa, there may be a chance of false-positive test results.
The common side effects of Follitropin Alfa are headache, pain, and redness at the injection site. These side effects are usually mild and temporary. However, immediately inform your doctor if any of these side effects persist or worsen.
Follitropin Alfa should not be used in patients who have a tumor in the pituitary gland or hypothalamus (parts of the brain), ovarian cysts (fluid-filled sacs in ovaries), unexplained vaginal bleeding, cancer of ovaries, womb, or breast, blood clotting problems, menopause, premature ovarian failure (early menopause or dysfunction of sexual organs).
In most cases, female infertility can be cured by medicines, surgery, or assisted reproductive technology (ART), such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or a combination of these treatments. The doctor will suggest a suitable treatment depending on the cause of infertility.
Follitropin Alfa is given by a healthcare professional such as doctor or a nurse as a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection. The dosage of Follitropin Alfa will be determined by your doctor based on your specific condition and response to therapy. Do not self-administer.
If you miss a dose of Follitropin Alfa, contact your doctor as soon as possible. They will advise you on the best course of action, which may include rescheduling the missed dose or adjusting your treatment plan.
