Menopur (Menotropins) is an injectable fertility medication that contains follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), used to stimulate the ovaries to produce eggs during IVF and ovulation induction cycles.

What Is Menopur?

Menopur is a gonadotropin — a type of hormone injection that tells your ovaries to grow follicles, each of which can contain an egg. It's classified as a human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) because it's derived from the urine of postmenopausal women.

Unlike some other fertility medications that contain only FSH (like Gonal-F or Follistim), Menopur provides both FSH and LH in equal amounts. The FSH drives follicle growth, while the LH supports estrogen production and helps the follicles mature properly. Learn more about how Menopur works in your body.

Menopur is manufactured by Ferring Pharmaceuticals and comes as a powder that you mix with a liquid diluent before injecting.

What Is Menopur Used For?

Menopur is FDA-approved for two main uses:

• Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) cycles — Most commonly IVF. Menopur stimulates the ovaries to develop multiple follicles so that several eggs can be retrieved for fertilization.
• Ovulation induction — For women who don't ovulate regularly (oligo-anovulation) and have already received pituitary suppression therapy.

Doctors also prescribe Menopur off-label for:

• IUI (intrauterine insemination) cycles — To boost the number of mature follicles before insemination.
• Male infertility — Rarely, to stimulate sperm production in men with specific hormonal deficiencies.

How Is Menopur Taken?

Menopur is given as a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection, typically in the lower abdomen. Here's what the process looks like:

1. Reconstitution — You dissolve the powder in the provided sodium chloride diluent using a Q-Cap mixing device. Multiple vials can be mixed into a single syringe.
2. Injection — Using a small needle, you inject the solution under the skin of your abdomen. Most patients self-administer at home after their clinic teaches them how.
3. Timing — Injections are given once daily, usually in the evening, at the same time each day.
4. Duration — A typical stimulation cycle lasts 5 to 12 days, depending on how your ovaries respond.

Typical dosing:

• IVF: Starting dose of 225 IU daily, adjustable by 75 to 150 IU based on response
• Ovulation induction: Starting dose of 150 IU daily
• Maximum daily dose: 450 IU

Your doctor will monitor you with ultrasounds and blood tests every few days and adjust your dose as needed. Don't change your dose without your doctor's instruction.

Who Should Not Take Menopur?

Menopur is not safe for everyone. You should not use Menopur if you have:

• High FSH levels indicating primary ovarian failure
• Uncontrolled thyroid or adrenal problems
• A pituitary or hypothalamic tumor
• Abnormal uterine bleeding of unknown cause
• Ovarian cysts not caused by PCOS
• Sex hormone-dependent tumors
• A known pregnancy
• Allergy to menotropins or any ingredient in Menopur

Menopur carries a boxed warning stating it should only be prescribed by doctors experienced in infertility treatment, and patients must be monitored with appropriate facilities. The biggest risks include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and multiple pregnancies.

How Much Does Menopur Cost?

Menopur is expensive. Here's what you can expect:

• Per vial: $90 to $130 (each vial contains 75 IU)
• Per IVF cycle: $1,800 to $5,200 (typically 20 to 40 vials needed)
• Generic available? No. Menopur is a biologically-derived product without approved biosimilars.

Insurance coverage varies widely. Some states mandate fertility treatment coverage — including Massachusetts, Illinois, New York, and Connecticut — but many patients still pay some or all costs out of pocket. An estimated 60% to 70% of patients pay for at least part of their fertility medications themselves.

Ways to save:

• Ferring's HEART Program — 25% to 75% off for qualifying patients
• Livestrong Fertility — Assistance for cancer patients
• Baby Quest Foundation — Grants for fertility treatment
• NeedyMeds and RxAssist — Directories of assistance programs

If Menopur is too expensive or unavailable, talk to your doctor about alternative gonadotropins like Gonal-F, Follistim, or Pergoveris.

Final Thoughts

Menopur is a well-established fertility medication that has helped millions of women grow the follicles needed for IVF and other fertility treatments. Understanding what it is, how to take it, and what it costs puts you in a stronger position to navigate your treatment.

If you need help finding Menopur in stock or at a lower price, start at Medfinder.