Gonal-F and Follistim: Side Effects and What They Do in Your IVF Cycle

What exactly are Gonal-F and Follistim, how do they work, and what should you expect? Fertility nurse and co-founder of Dandi Fertility, Leyla Bilali, breaks it all down for us.

If you’re beginning your IVF injections, it’s likely that Gonal-F or Follistim is listed several times on your treatment calendar. Wonder what these medications are doing? How will you expect to feel while taking them? Our co-founder and fertility nurse, Leyla Bilali, has taken these medications herself and walks women through the process of injecting them on the daily. Here’s what she wants you to know so you go in prepared.

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Gonal-F and Follistim are brand names of synthetic FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), which plays a crucial role in your fertility treatment.

FSH is a hormone naturally produced by your body to help stimulate the growth of ovarian follicles, which are responsible for maturing eggs.

The purpose of taking Gonal-F or Follistim during your IVF cycle is to essentially cause your body to have higher FSH levels than it usually releases just to grow one egg. We want to grow as many eggs as possible, so you need more Follicle Stimulating Hormone to stimulate more of your follicles to each grow an egg!

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“We’re giving you more FSH via Gonal-F or Follistim to produce, hopefully, more follicles”. Leyla explains. By enhancing your body’s natural FSH levels, these medications help your doctor stimulate your ovaries more effectively and maximize your chances of retrieving multiple eggs during your IVF cycle.

If you’ve been wondering whether there’s any difference between Gonal-F and Follistim, the answer is no! “They’re both synthetic FSH and essentially the same medication,” Leyla confirms. The only difference is the brand name, so whichever one your doctor prescribes will work the same way in your body.

The number of days you have to inject Gonal-F or Follistim varies depending on your specific protocol and how your body responds to the medication. But Leyla mentions that most IVF patients will be injecting these medications for 8 to 12 days.

“Typically, it lasts from the beginning to the end of your IVF cycle, aside from the day of your trigger shot,” she explains. Your doctor may also prescribe additional medications alongside FSH to further support your cycle. Watch our YouTube series on IVF medications to see the full list of fertility medications that are often used in IVF!

Both Gonal-F and Follistim are administered subcutaneously, meaning they are injected into the fatty tissue just beneath your skin. “We usually recommend the abdomen as the most common injection site,” Leyla says. However, some patients choose to use their upper outer thigh. The key is to make sure you’re injecting it into the fatty tissue for proper absorption.

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If the idea of self-injecting feels overwhelming, don’t worry! Dandi offers virtual care services with our fertility nurses nationwide to help guide you through the injection process. Virtual walkthroughs have been a game-changer for many fertility patients, offering step-by-step guidance on how to administer the injections confidently and getting support from a professional along the way.

Like any medication, Gonal-F and Follistim can come with side effects. The most common ones include:

• Bloating
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Feeling “foggy-headed”

Leyla mentions that these side effects are common with many IVF medications, but they can be more noticeable when taken alongside other drugs. However, she reassures that most patients find them manageable, especially with the short duration of the FSH treatment.

Not to mention, the injection itself can be uncomfortable. Injections can cause some discomfort such as bruising and knowing where to inject can be tricky. Our IVF care kit includes shot targets for your nurse to place so you can be confident that you know where to inject and we also include a belt so that you can compress the area while you inject.

Understanding the role of FSH medications like Gonal-F and Follistim is an important step in preparing for your IVF cycle. These injections help stimulate your ovaries to produce more eggs, giving you the best chance for success. While side effects are possible, they’re usually mild, and there are many resources available to help you feel more confident with the process.

As always, it’s important to have open communication with your fertility team. If you have questions about your medication protocol or need support with your injections, don’t hesitate to reach out to your care team! And remember, our virtual care team at Dandi is always available to hop on a call to answer questions and guide you through the process.

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