Blog
Aug 28, 2026
A woman’s natural menstrual cycle is regulated by a complex interaction between the brain, the pituitary gland, and the ovaries. Each month, hormones are released that stimulate a follicle in the ovary to grow and mature before ovulation occurs.
In a natural cycle, typically only one egg reaches maturity. During IVF treatment, however, the goal is to stimulate the development of multiple eggs at the same time in order to increase the number of eggs available for fertilization and the creation of embryos. To achieve this, fertility medications containing or mimicking the body’s natural hormones are used.
The most important hormones used are:
FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), a gonadotropin
LH (luteinizing hormone)
FSH stimulates the growth of follicles within the ovaries, while LH supports egg maturation and the hormonal processes that lead to ovulation.
By administering these hormones in carefully controlled doses, fertility specialists can stimulate and optimize the development of multiple eggs during a single treatment cycle.
Fertility medications can generally be divided into two main categories: recombinant hormones and urinary-derived hormones.
Bemfola and Gonal-f contain recombinant FSH. This means that the hormone is produced using modern biotechnology and is virtually identical to the FSH naturally produced by the body.
Advantages of recombinant medications include:
Precise dosing
Easy-to-use injection pens
Consistent quality between manufacturing batches
Today, recombinant FSH is one of the most commonly used forms of ovarian stimulation in IVF treatment.
Menopur contains both FSH and LH in the form of human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG).
This type of treatment has been used for many years, and modern preparations are highly purified and meet the same high-quality standards as other contemporary fertility medications.
For some patients, the combination of FSH and LH may provide additional hormonal support during ovarian stimulation.
Not all patients respond to ovarian stimulation in the same way. Factors such as age, ovarian reserve, hormone profile, and previous treatment outcomes can influence the choice of medication.
Some women achieve an excellent response with FSH-only medications such as Bemfola or Gonal-f. Others may benefit from a medication that also contains LH, such as Menopur.
The goal is not to find the strongest medication, but rather to select the treatment that best matches the patient’s individual circumstances while providing an optimal balance between effectiveness and safety.
During IVF treatment, hormone medications are used to stimulate the ovaries to develop multiple follicles simultaneously. The aim is to increase the number of mature eggs available for egg retrieval and thereby improve the chances of a successful treatment outcome.
Three of the most commonly prescribed medications for ovarian stimulation are Bemfola, Gonal-f and Menopur. All three are used to stimulate the ovaries, but they contain different hormonal components.
Bemfola contains recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which stimulates the ovaries to develop and mature follicles.
FSH is a naturally occurring hormone that plays a key role in the menstrual cycle and egg development.
Gonal-f also contains recombinant FSH and works similarly to Bemfola by stimulating the development of ovarian follicles.
The medication has been used in fertility treatment for many years and is available in a range of dosage strengths, allowing treatment to be tailored to the individual patient.
Menopur differs from Bemfola and Gonal-f because it contains both:
FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone)
LH (luteinizing hormone)
LH is a naturally occurring hormone that works alongside FSH during the egg maturation process.
All three medications are used to stimulate the development of multiple follicles during a single treatment cycle.
Throughout treatment, the ovarian response is carefully monitored using:
Ultrasound examinations
Hormone testing
Individual dose adjustments when necessary
Once the follicles have reached the appropriate size, egg retrieval is scheduled.
There is no single medication that is best for every patient. The choice of treatment is based on several individual factors, including:
Age
AMH level
Antral follicle count (AFC)
Previous IVF outcomes
Hormone levels
Body weight
Medical history
The goal is to select the treatment that provides the best balance between egg development, treatment effectiveness and patient safety.
Studies generally show that both FSH-based medications such as Bemfola and Gonal-f, as well as combination medications such as Menopur, can lead to successful IVF outcomes. For many patients, the differences are small, while certain groups may benefit from a specific medication depending on their individual fertility profile.
The most important factor is therefore not which medication is used, but that the treatment is tailored to the patient’s individual needs.
If you have previously undergone IVF treatment without achieving the desired outcome, or if you have questions about which medication may be most suitable for you, it may be beneficial to discuss this with your fertility specialist.
Together, you can review factors such as age, ovarian reserve, hormone levels and previous treatment outcomes in order to create a personalized treatment plan.
If you would like to learn more about which treatment option may be most suitable for you, a consultation with a fertility specialist can provide valuable guidance. Through an individual assessment, we can help create the best possible conditions for your IVF treatment and fertility journey.
