Ovitrelle, also called Ovidrel in the U.S., is a drug that contains the hormone recombinant hCG (r-hCG) and is used in the vast majority of assisted reproduction treatments.
It consists of a single injection that manages to trigger the final follicular maturation after controlled ovarian stimulation, both in artificial insemination (AI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Ovitrelle is expensive, but it is very effective, which has allowed the optimization of ART cycles and many women to achieve pregnancy.
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Composition of Ovitrelle
The active principle of Ovitrelle is choriogonadotropin alpha, a recombinant hCG hormone obtained in the laboratory thanks to genetic engineering techniques, so it is artificial in origin. As for the formats in which Ovitrelle is found, we find these two:
- Ovitrelle in pre-filled syringe
- Ovitrelle in pre-filled syringe consists of a container with 1 pre-filled syringe containing 250 µg of choriogonadotropin alpha in 0.5 ml of solution for injection, which is equivalent to approximately 6,500 IU.
- Ovitrelle in pre-filled syringe
- is supplied in a container with 1 pre-filled pen containing 250 µg of alpha choriogonadotropin in 0.5 ml of solution for injection, equivalent to approximately 6,500 IU.
In addition to its active ingredient, choriogonadotropin alpha, other excipients of the Ovitrelle drug are mannitol, methionine, disodium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate monohydrate, poloxamer 188, phosphoric acid, sodium hydroxide and water for injection. Currently, the pre-filled pen is the most used format.
Mechanism of action
Since women undergoing fertility treatment are previously hormonally suppressed, i.e. they do not produce endogenous pituitary hormones and their cycle is exogenously controlled by hormonal drugs, it is also necessary to administer an injection of the hormone hCG in order to trigger ovulation.
r-hCG (recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin) acts as a peak substitute for LH (luteinizing hormone), which would trigger ovulation during a normal menstrual cycle.
Specifically, Ovitrelle performs the following actions on the woman's body:
- It promotes the resumption of oocyte meiosis and thus induces the final maturation of the follicles that have developed in the ovarian stimulation.
- It allows ovulation (release of the mature egg from the ovary) in artificial insemination or programmed coitus cycles so that fertilization can take place.
- It triggers the formation of the corpus luteum in the ovary, which will secrete estradiol and the progesterone necessary for the endometrium to become receptive and for embryo implantation to occur.
Specifically, Ovitrelle promotes the final maturation of the eggs and their release approximately 36-48 hours after administration. Therefore, it is very important to schedule the artificial insemination or, in the case of IVF, the follicular puncture about 34 hours after injecting Ovitrelle.
It is essential to respect the injection times set by the doctor. Otherwise, this drug could negatively interfere with the final outcome of the reproductive treatment.
Indications
For all that has been said so far, Ovitrelle is indicated in the following situations:
- Women with anovulation or oligovulation, that is, who are not able to ovulate or who produce very few eggs. One of the most frequent cases of anovulation is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
- Women undergoing an artificial insemination cycle, to induce ovulation and introduce the capacitated sperm of the partner or of an anonymous donor.
- Women undergoing an IVF cycle, to trigger follicular maturation and to schedule egg retrieval before ovulation occurs. Several mature eggs can then be obtained for fertilization in the laboratory.
- Women undergoing a natural