Fertility Medication Instructions

Receiving your medications

When you receive your medications, ensure you review that you have received all of the medications for your treatment. If you have any questions, call your nurse before starting your treatment cycle.

Please follow the recommended manufacturer storage instructions that come with each medication.

How to dispose of your Sharps container

Loma Linda University Center for Fertility is not able to dispose of your used Sharps containers at our office, so please contact your local waste management company or health department to inquire about proper disposal is your area.

Medication refills

When you are ready for a refill on certain medications, you can contact your chosen pharmacy directly. However, be sure to plan ahead and refill your prescription before you run out of that medication.

Please be aware of how much medication you have at all times and alert your nurse if you are running low to inquire if more is needed.  

The pharmacy can typically order additional medication within 24-48 hours, although there is no delivery on Sundays.

Medication administration terminology

Below are common acronyms for medication administration routes that you will find referenced in the medication list below:

“SQ” = Subcutaneous Injection:

  • Administration of medication with a fine, small needle just below the surface of the skin, into fatty tissue
  • Injection sites: lower abdomen (below and at least one inch away from belly button) or upper, outer thigh
  • Rotate sites daily

“IM” = Intramuscular Injection:

  • Administration of medication deep into the muscle
  • Injection site: upper, outer quadrant of buttocks
  • Rotate sites daily

“TD” = Transdermal Medication:

  • Applied to the skin (often in the form of a patch)
  • Application sites: lower abdomen (below and at least one inch away from belly button), upper area of buttocks, backs of upper arms, thighs
  • Rotate sites as needed

“PO” = Oral:

  • Medication taken by mouth

“TV” = Transvaginal

  • Medication inserted into the vagina

“CC” = (cubic centimeter) is the same as “ML” (milliliter)

Injectable medications

Medications Route Mixing/Preparing Medication Administering Medication
Lupron/Leuprolide Acetate, Microdose LupronLow-dose HCG SQ Already reconstituted,no mixing required. Use insulin syringes that come with kit to draw prescribed dose out of vial. Use same insulin syringe with attached needle to inject.
Ganirelix Acetate/Antagon SQ Full dose: comes in prefilled Ganirelix syringe with attached needle, no mixing required. Using Ganirelix syringe: use prefilled Ganirelix syringe with attached needle to inject.
Cetrotide SQ Comes with prefilled syringe of diluent and 20g 1.5” needle. Attach 20g 1.5” needle to syringe and inject all of the diluent into powder.  Once diluted, draw up mixture back into syringe. Change to 27g 1/2” needle to inject.
Follistim AQ cartridge SQ Load cartridge into Follistim pen device. Dial up prescribed dose. Twist on pen needle unit included in package to inject.
Follistim AQ vial SQ Use 3cc syringe and 22g 1.5” needle to mix 1cc of diluent with powder. Using same supplies, draw 1cc of mixture back into syringe. Change to 27g 1/2” needle to inject.
Gonal-F MultiDose Vial SQ Comes with prefilled syringe of diluent; inject all of the diluent into powder then dispose of that syringe. Use 1ml syringe with attached needle that comes in the kit to draw prescribed dose out of vial. Use same 1ml syringe with attached needle to inject.
Gonal-F RFF Pen SQ Already reconstituted in pen, no mixing required. Dial up prescribed dose. Twist on pen needle unit included in package to inject.
Bravelle, Menopur SQ Use 3cc syringe and 22g 1.5” needle (or Q-cap) to inject 1/2cc of diluent into powder. Use same supplies to draw 1/2cc of mixture back into syringe. Use that mixture to dilute and mix additional vials as needed for total dose. Change to 27g 1/2” needle to inject.
Repronex IM Use 3cc syringe and 22g 1.5” needle (or Q-cap) to inject 1/2cc of diluent into powder. Use same supplies to draw 1/2cc of mixture back into syringe. Use that mixture to dilute and mix additional vials as needed for total dose. Change to 22g 1.5” needle to inject.
HCG (Chorionic Gonadotropin, Novarel, and Pregnyl) IM Use 3cc syringe and 22g 1.5” needle to inject 1cc of diluent into powder. Use same supplies to draw the amount of mixture back into the syringe, directed by your physician or nurse. Change to 22g 1.5” needle to inject.
Progesterone in Oil, IM No mixing required. Use 3cc syringe and 18g or 22g 1.5” needle to draw prescribed dose out of vial. Change to fresh 22g 1.5” needle to inject.
Saizen (Growth Hormone)Note:  once reconstituted, Saizen must be used within 14 days. SQ Medication comes with a vial of powder (Saizen medication) and a 3.5cc vial of diluent. Use 3cc syringe with attached 22g 1½” needle to inject 2.2cc of diluent into powder. Discard remaining diluent. Gently swirl vial to mix—do not shake. Draw 1cc of the medication out of vial. Change needle to a 27g ½” needle to inject subcutaneously into your abdomen. Refrigerate the remainder of the medication to use the next day for your Growth Hormone injection. Use 3ml 27g ½” to inject.

 

 

Non-injectable medications

Medication Route Preparing Medication Administering Medication
Crinone TV Comes in prefilled applicator. Use prefilled applicator to insert vaginally.
Endometrin TV Comes with disposable applicators. Place tablet in applicator then insert vaginally.
Progesterone Vaginal Suppositories TV N/A Using finger, insert suppository vaginally.
Prometrium PO or TV N/A Take tablet orally or insert vaginally, per your physician’s or nurse’s instructions.
Estrogen patch (Estraderm, Vivelle, Minivelle, Climara) TD N/A Apply to skin as directed by physician or nurse.
Estradiol (Estrace) PO or TV N/A Take tablet orally or insert vaginally, per your physician or nurse instructions.Please note: although this medication is in tablet form, we often ask patients to insert the tablet vaginally to increase absorption to the uterus. Please follow your physician’s or nurse’s instructions and do not hesitate to ask if you have questions.
Clomiphene Citrate (Clomid) PO N/A Take tablet orally at the prescribed dose.
Letrozole (Femara) PO N/A Take tablet orally at the prescribed dose.
Doxycycline PO N/A Take tablet orally at the prescribed dose.
Baby Aspirin PO N/A Take tablet orally at the prescribed dose.
Metformin (Glucophage) PO N/A Take tablet orally at the prescribed dose.
Prednisone PO N/A Take tablet orally at the prescribed dose.