Clinical pharmacology of gonadotrophin preparations

The practice of ovulation induction and superovulation for IVF has progressed in many ways since the first reports of pregnancies after IVF over 25 years ago. The pharmacology of gonadotrophins has advanced alongside other developments, leading to safer, easier and more effective treatments for anovular infertility and IVF ovulation induction. This review uses current concepts of the basic physiology of gonadotrophin actions during the natural ovarian cycle as a starting point from which to assess their uses in anovulation and assisted reproduction. The relative merits of urinary and recombinant gonadotrophins are discussed, along with their uses in combination with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonists and antagonists.