Ovidrel®/ (choriogonadotropin alfa) is the first recombinant liquid prefilled chorionic gonadotropin (r-hCG) in the world for the treatment of anovulation, or absence of ovulation which is the most common cause of infertility in women. Anovulation is brought about by irregularities in the hormones needed to produce and release healthy eggs. Ovidrel® 6500 IU is administered after the stimulation of the growth of follicles (or eggs) by follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). It is used to trigger ovulation in women with anovulation and to promote final maturation of eggs in the ovaries of women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as in-vitro fertilization. Ovidrel® 6500 IU is produced by recombinant DNA technology and delivered in a liquid, prefilled syringe.

The role of hCG in the body

The primary role of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in vivo is to maintain the corpus luteum (hormone-secreting body formed at the site of ovulation) which secrets estrogen and progesterone, the two hormones necessary to support the first trimester of pregnancy. Ovidrel® 6500 IU is a recombinant chorionic gonadotropin, which is equivalent in its structure to the naturally occurring hCG in the body. However, as hCG can act very similarly to LH, Ovidrel® 6500 IU is used in clinical practice to complete the maturation of the oocyte.

The most common side effects (seen in between 1 and 10 patients in 100) are a reaction or pain at the injection site, headache, tiredness, vomiting, nausea (feeling sick), abdominal (tummy) pain, and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (e.g. feeling sick, weight gain, diarrhea). Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome occurs when the ovaries over-respond to treatment, especially when medicines to trigger ovulation have been used.

Ovidrel® 6500 IU should not be used in people who may be hypersensitive (allergic) to choriogonadotropin alfa or any of the other ingredients, or in patients with tumors of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, ovary, uterus or breast. It should not be used when a response cannot be obtained (such as in ovarian failure). It should not be used in women when there is ovarian enlargement or cyst not due to polycystic ovarian disease, or unexplained vaginal bleeding, or who have had an ectopic pregnancy in the previous 3 months. Ovidrel® 6500 IU should also not be used in patients with active thrombo-embolic (clotting) disorders.