What to expect
Commonly reported symptoms.
A plain-English summary of what people on common IVF medications often report. Not a complete list of possible reactions and not medical advice.
A reminder. Your clinic and the package insert that came with each medication are the definitive sources. If you have a reaction you're worried about, call the nurse line. If you have one of the serious-and-rare ones (rash spreading, severe pain, breathing trouble, fever), call urgent care or 911.
Ovarian stimulation
Gonal-F
follitropin alfa- Mild bloating that builds through the cycle
- Sore or bruised injection sites
- Headaches, often dull and dehydration-adjacent
- Mood shifts, including weepy or irritable days
- Tender breasts later in the cycle
- A heavy, full feeling in the lower abdomen near retrieval
Follistim
follitropin beta- Mild bloating that builds through the cycle
- Sore or bruised injection sites
- Headaches
- Mood shifts
- Tender breasts later in the cycle
- A heavy feeling in the lower abdomen near retrieval
Menopur
menotropin- Stings more than Gonal-F or Follistim going in
- Welts or red spots at the injection site for a day after
- Bloating, fatigue, mood shifts on top of what stims already bring
- Headaches
Antagonist
Cetrotide
cetrorelix- Mild redness at the injection site
- Sometimes a slight headache
- Most people report it's the easiest stim-cycle shot to tolerate
Ganirelix
ganirelix acetate- Mild redness at the injection site
- Some report nausea or a slight headache
- Usually well tolerated
Agonist
Lupron
leuprolide acetate- Hot flashes, especially at higher doses
- Headaches
- Mood shifts, including feeling flat or low
- Trouble sleeping
- Some report joint or muscle aches
Trigger shot
Ovidrel
choriogonadotropin alfa- Pressure and fullness in the ovaries the day after
- Headache, mild nausea
- Stings briefly at injection
- It's only one shot, then done
Progesterone
Progesterone in oil
progesterone- Soreness at injection sites that builds over days
- Knots or lumps that take days to soften (heat helps)
- Fatigue, sometimes deep
- Tender breasts, bloating
- Mood shifts, often flat or weepy
- Constipation
- Most people report this is the hardest medication of the cycle
Crinone 8%
progesterone gel- Discharge or clumpy buildup, more than expected (this is normal)
- Cramping
- Mood shifts
- Sometimes breast tenderness
- Some prefer this to PIO; some don't
Endometrin
progesterone insert- Discharge or messy mornings
- Cramping or pelvic ache
- Fatigue
- Three times a day takes scheduling discipline
Estrogen
Estrace
estradiol- Mild nausea, especially the first couple of days
- Tender breasts
- Headaches
- Spotting can happen and is usually fine, but tell the clinic