Human Menopausal Gonadotrophin

The Uses of Human Menopausal Gonadotrophin

Gonad-stimulating principle.

The Uses of Human Menopausal Gonadotrophin

Gonadotropin from human menopausal urine has been used as a supplement in pre-incubated maturation medium for the culture of bovine cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) to study the effects of multiple freeze-thawing of bovine epididymal sperm on in vitro development of embryo.

brand name

Humegon (Organon); Pergonal (Serono).

General Description

Pituitary hormones prepared from the urine of postmenopausalwomen whose ovarian tissue does not respondto gonadotropin are available for medicinal use as theproduct menotropins (Pergonal). The latter has FSH andLH gonadotropin activity in a 1:1 ratio. Menotropins areuseful in the treatment of anovular women whose ovariesrespond to pituitary gonadotropins but who have a gonadotropindeficiency caused by either pituitary or hypothalamusmalfunction. Usually, menotropins are administeredintramuscularly in an initial dose of 75 IU of FSHand 75 IU of LH daily for 9 to 12 days, followed by 10,000IU of chorionic gonadotropin 1 day after the last dose ofmenotropins.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Gonadotropin interacts with members of the GPCR (G-protein coupled receptor family), and upon activation they induce adenylyl cyclase. This hormone is synthesized in male reproductive tract and has high concentration in semen, especially the a subunit. This subunit is linked with spermatogenesis, and lower levels are present in males with aberrant semen quality.

Mechanism of action

Human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG), which contains follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), can secrete gonadotropin to promote follicle maturation to stimulate ovulation and accelerate the development of corpus luteum.HMG is derived from the urine of postmenopausal women[1].

Clinical Use

Menotropins are a natural product that is obtained from the urine of postmenopausal women and then biologically standardized (international units [IU]) for FSH and LH activities in an approximate ratio of 1:1. Menotropins are used in males with primary (hypothalamic) or secondary (pituitary) hypogonadism to stimulate spermatogenesis, providing they have been treated previously with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; a peptide hormone of placental origin that has activity very similar to LH) to effect masculinization (increased testosterone inducing ovulation in women who are having difficulty ovulating as a result of either hypothalamic or pituitary hormonal dysfunction. The menotropins are given for 7 to 12 days, and after clinical evaluation (via ultrasound) indicates the presence of a mature follicle, a single dose of hCG is given to simulate the typical LH surge that normally triggers ovulation. Also, women use the combination of menotropins and hCG to promote the development of multiple follicles when they are participating in an IVF program requiring the recruitment of follicles.

Side Effects

Side effects: Headache, mild stomach pain/bloating, redness/pain at the injection site, breast tenderness, or dizziness may occur.
Serious side effects, including: vaginal bleeding, flu-like symptoms (such as fever, chills, joint pain, muscle ache, tiredness).

References

[1] Shaoquan Shi. “Letrozole and human menopausal gonadotropin for ovulation induction in clomiphene resistance polycystic ovary syndrome patients: A randomized controlled study.” Medicine (2020): e18383.