RisksThe overall risks of assisted reproductive technology (ART) are no greater than those of pregnancy itself. Generally speaking, these risks are divided into those related to stimulation and those related to retrieval. There are also risks associated with specific procedures, such as ovulation induction and in vitro fertilization (IVF) as outlined below. Stimulation & inductionHematoma. A hematoma (collection of blood) may form as a result of the injection. Swelling and redness. Swelling, redness and pain at the injection site may occur. Allergic reactions. Allergic reactions to the gonadotropins occur in only a small percentage of patients. Heachaches, hot flashes and mood swings. Headaches, menopausal-like hot flashes and mild mood swings may occur as a result of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist down regulation. Some patients also complain of mild joint pain. Fluid in the abdomen. A collection of fluid in the abdomen and chest cavity may occur due to excessive stimulation. Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS). OHSS is a serious medical problem that can happen when the ovaries are overstimulated. In the rare case, it has caused death. OHSS causes fluid to build up suddenly in the stomach and chest areas.
Severe pelvic pain (lower stomach area) Nausea Vomiting Sudden weight gain Reduced urine output Abnormal clotting. Abnormal clotting can result from severe hyperstimulation and can be life-threatening. This occurs rarely. Multiple births. Treatment with gonadotropins can result in multiple births. Your healthcare professional will discuss your chances of multiple births. RetrievalInternal bleeding. Internal bleeding caused by the needle used in vaginal ultrasonically guided egg retrieval is rare. Pelvic infection. Pelvic infection does occur on occasion but usually responds to antibiotic therapy. Pelvic abscesses. Pelvic abscesses can develop but this occurs rarely. IVFEctopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy, usually tubal, may occur with ART procedures or IVF. Embryos that are replaced in the uterus may migrate into the fallopian tube because of uterine contractions. These early embryos may lodge in the oviduct or fallopian tube rather than return to the uterine cavity for normal implantation. It is important to discuss these and other risks with your doctor. FOLLISTIM AQ (follitropin beta injection) is approved for women to help healthy ovaries to develop and release mature eggs. FOLLISTIM AQ is also for women participating in an assisted reproductive technology (ART) program to help the ovaries produce more mature eggs. FOLLISTIM AQ is also approved for men to help bring about the production and development of sperm. Important Safety Information About FOLLISTIM AQ: • Do not use FOLLISTIM AQ if you are allergic to recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) products; have a high level of FSH in your blood indicating that your ovaries (women only) or testes (men only) may be permanently damaged and do not work at all; have uncontrolled thyroid, pituitary or adrenal gland problems; are allergic to streptomycin or neomycin (types of antibiotics); have a tumor of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, breast, uterus (women only) or ovary (women only), or testis (men only); are a women who is pregnant or think you may be pregnant; have heavy or irregular vaginal bleeding and the cause is not known; have ovarian cysts or enlarged ovaries not due to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). • Be sure that you read, understand, and follow the "Patient Instructions for Use" that come with FOLLISTIM AQ. Use FOLLISTIM AQ exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much FOLLISTIM AQ to use, how to inject it, and how often it should be injected. Do not inject FOLLISTIM AQ at home until your healthcare provider has taught you the right way. Do not mix FOLLISTIM AQ with any other medicines in the same vial or in the same syringe. Do not change your dose of FOLLISTIM AQ unless your healthcare provider tells you to. Call your healthcare provider immediately if you use too much FOLLISTIM AQ. If you miss or forget to take a dose, do not double your next dose. Ask your healthcare provider for instructions. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please see accompanying important patient information for Follistim AQ Vial. Please see accompanying important patient information for Follistim AQ Cartridge. PREGNYL is approved to induce ovulation and pregnancy in women who have problems with ovulation and who have been appropriately pretreated with human menopausal gonadotropins (medications containing follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH] and luteinizing hormone [LH]). PREGNYL will not help women whose ovaries do not work at all (primary ovarian failure). Important Safety Information About PREGNYL: • Do not use PREGNYL if you are allergic to human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). • PREGNYL should be used in conjunction with human menopausal gonadotropins. • PREGNYL should only be prescribed by physicians experienced in infertility treatments. • Anaphylaxis has been reported with urinary-derived HCG products. • PREGNYL may cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which is a serious medical problem that can happen when the ovaries are overstimulated. In rare cases, it has caused death. OHSS causes fluid to build up suddenly in the stomach and chest areas. OHSS may occur after treatment with PREGNYL. Call your healthcare professional right away if you get any of the following symptoms: severe pelvic pain (lower stomach area), nausea, vomiting, sudden weight gain, diarrhea, reduced urine output, or trouble breathing. • PREGNYL may also cause rupture of ovarian cysts resulting in internal bleeding (hemoperitoneum), multiple births, and artery blockage by a blood clot (arterial thromboembolism). • Other side effects with PREGNYL include headache, irritability, restlessness, depression, fatigue, edema, and pain at the site of injection. • Hypersensitivity reactions, both localized and systemic in nature, have been reported. • If you get any side effects that concern you, call your healthcare professional. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please see accompanying important Product Information and discuss it with your doctor. Ganirelix Acetate Injection is approved for the inhibition of premature luteinizing hormone (LH) surges in women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Important Safety Information About Ganirelix: • Do not use Ganirelix Acetate Injection if you are allergic to Ganirelix Acetate or any of its components, gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) or any other GnRH analog (including GnRH agonists and antagonists), or if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant. If you get any side effects that concern you, call your healthcare professional. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please see accompanying important patient information for Ganirelix Acetate Injection. |
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