Ovidrel
Ovidrel (choriogonadotropin alfa) is a gonadotropin injection that's used as a "trigger shot" during fertility treatments, like in vitro fertilization (IVF). It's used as part of the process to help people who are having trouble becoming pregnant. The medication comes in a ready-to-use syringe. But it must be given at a very specific time because it's the final step to help your eggs develop and to help with ovulation (egg release from the ovary). Common side effects can include pain and bruising at the injection site.
What is Ovidrel?
What is Ovidrel used for?
How Ovidrel works
Ovidrel is a gonadotropin medication. It's similar to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone that's made by the placenta during pregnancy. In the fertility treatment process, this hormone helps eggs fully mature and helps the ovary release the eggs.
Drug Facts
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What are the side effects of Ovidrel?
Common Side Effects
- Pain at the injection site (8%)
- Bruising at the injection site (5%)
Other Side Effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Other pain
Serious Side Effects
- Allergic reaction: rash; hives; swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat
- Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: severe pelvic or stomach pain, stomach bloating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sudden weight gain, trouble breathing, trouble urinating
- Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung): trouble breathing, worsening of any current lung problems
- Heart attack: chest pain or tightness; pain that spreads to your shoulder, arm, neck, or jaw
- Stroke: sudden trouble talking, trouble walking, numbness on one side of your body or face
Source: DailyMed
The following side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
For females only
For boys only
Frequency not determined
difficult or labored breathing
difficulty breathing
flushing of skin
hives or welts
itching of skin
large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, sex organs
pain in chest, groin, or legs, especially the calves
redness of skin
severe, sudden headache
skin rash
slurred speech
sudden loss of coordination
sudden, severe weakness or numbness in arm or leg
sudden, unexplained shortness of breath
tightness in chest
unusually warm skin
vision changes
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common
Discouragement
enlargement of breasts
feeling sad or empty
headache
irritability
lack of appetite
loss of interest or pleasure
pain at place of injection
trouble concentrating
trouble sleeping
tiredness
After you stop using this medicine, it may still produce some side effects that need attention. During this period of time, check with your doctor immediately if you notice the following side effects:
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Pros and cons of Ovidrel
Pros
Can inject the medication yourself at home
Comes as a ready-to-use prefilled syringe
Only need one injection of the medication during the fertility treatment process
Cons
Only available as an injection under the skin
Must inject the medication at a very specific time to work the best it can
No lower-cost generic available; brand name only
Pharmacist tips for Ovidrel
Once you pick up Ovidrel from the pharmacy, you can keep it in the refrigerator until the expiration date written on the package. You also have the choice to keep the medication at room temperature, but it's good for only up to 30 days if it's stored this way. Keep Ovidrel in its original packaging until you need to inject it.
You'll need to inject Ovidrel at a very specific time in your treatment plan for the medication to work the best it can. Carefully follow your prescriber's instructions about when to inject the medication.
You can inject Ovidrel at home, but you'll first need training from a healthcare professional about how to properly inject the medication. You don't need to go to the medical office to get the injection done.
Always wash your hands with soap and water before you inject Ovidrel. Also wipe the area of skin you're going to inject the medication into with an alcohol swab before you inject. This helps prevent infection.
After you inject Ovidrel, you can place some gauze over the area and apply some pressure for several seconds to help stop any bleeding.
Be sure to throw away your used syringes in a protective sharps container. Your care team might provide you with this container, but you can also purchase one at most pharmacies. Don't throw syringes away in the regular trash because of the risk for needle-stick injuries.
Frequently asked questions about Ovidrel
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What are the risks and warnings for Ovidrel?
Ovidrel can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Swollen ovaries
It's possible for Ovidrel to cause your ovaries to grow or swell, which can cause some mild stomach bloating or stomach pain. This swelling typically goes down within a few weeks. Tell your prescriber right away if you feel any cramps or pain in the pelvic or lower belly area after you inject the medication.
Your fertility specialist will check the size of your ovaries through ultrasounds during the treatment process. If your ovaries are already quite swollen on an ultrasound before you're scheduled to inject Ovidrel, your prescriber will tell you not to use the medication. This helps lower the risk of causing your ovaries to become even bigger and the risk for complications.
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)
Risk factors: Pregnancy
Ovidrel can sometimes cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a condition that happens when the ovaries swell up too much after you inject the medication. It's very painful and can cause vomiting and diarrhea. It can also lead to more serious problems, including trouble breathing and burst ovaries.
OHSS usually goes away on its own once your menstrual period starts. But it can also worsen if you successfully become pregnant. For this reason, your care team will follow up with you during the 2 weeks after your Ovidrel. Tell your care team right away if you have extreme belly or pelvic pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea within 7 to 10 days after you inject Ovidrel. These can be signs of OHSS.
Risk for blood clots, leading to possible complications like heart attack or stroke
Risk factors: Personal or family history of blood clots | Smoking | People who are considered overweight
It's possible for Ovidrel to raise your risk of developing a blood clot. Blood clots can sometimes lead to serious complications, such as heart attack, stroke, or pulmonary embolism (PE, a blood clot in the lung).
Be sure to discuss all your past and current medical conditions with your prescriber before you take Ovidrel. This is because there are many things that can raise your risk for clots, such as smoking and a previous blood clot. Call 911 or get medical help right away if you have pain in your legs or arms, chest pain, sudden severe headaches, trouble breathing, or sudden changes in your speech or vision. These can be symptoms of a blood clot or one of its complications.
Possible to become pregnant with more than one baby
Risk factors: Having more than one embryo transferred
All gonadotropin fertility treatments, including Ovidrel, can make it much more likely for you to conceive and deliver more than one baby (e.g., twins, triplets). This is because of how the medication works to make the body ovulate. Your risk of conceiving multiple babies is highest if you're having more than one egg transferred during the same menstrual cycle that you used Ovidrel. Please discuss the possibility of having more than one baby in a pregnancy with your partner before you start the treatment process with Ovidrel.
Ovidrel dosage forms
Typical dosing for Ovidrel
Inject the contents of 1 syringe (0.5 mL) under the skin once. Your fertility specialist will tell you exactly what specific date and time that you need to inject the medication.
Interactions between Ovidrel and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
How much does Ovidrel cost?
Ovidrel contraindications
Uncontrolled thyroid or adrenal dysfunction
Pituitary tumor or another uncontrolled brain tumor
Abnormal vaginal bleeding
Large ovarian cyst
Sex hormone-dependent tumors of the reproductive tract
Currently pregnant
Allergy to other hCG products
What are alternatives to Ovidrel?
Female infertility
Low testosterone levels in males (hypogonadism) caused by pituitary gland condition
Prepubertal cryptorchidism (a condition where the testes haven't descended)
What is the latest news about Ovidrel?
Ovidrel images
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References
Best studies we foundAmerican Cancer Society. (2022). What are pituitary tumors?
American Pregnancy Association. (n.d.). What are HCG levels?
American Pregnancy Association. (n.d.). What is ovulation?
EMD Serono, Inc. (2023). Ovidrel- choriogonadotropin alfa injection, solution [package insert]. DailyMed.
Guth, B., et al. (1995). Predictive value of hCG level 14 days after embryo transfer. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics.
Järvelä, I. Y., et al. (2010). Improved pregnancy rate with administration of hCG after intrauterine insemination: A pilot study. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology.
Kumar, P., et al. (2011). Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences.
MedlinePlus. (2024). Primary ovarian insufficiency.
Rushing, J. (2004). How to administer a subcutaneous injection. Nursing.
Shah, D. K., et al. (2014). Pharmacokinetics of human chorionic gonadotropin injection in obese and normal-weight women. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
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