Menotropins

Menotropin is an active substance for the treatment of fertility disturbances.

It is extracted from human urine and contains the two gonadotropin hormones LH and FSH.

Menotropin medications include Bravelle ®, Menopur ® and Pergonal ®.

Risks
Because of the risk that Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) could be transferred in the treatment, the Swiss medical board of control, Swissmedic, decreed that a supplemental warning must be provided, although as yet not one CJD infection has been transferred through human urine.

In a complaint before their Federal court, the manufacturer objected that Menotropin from other kinds of mammals must carry the disease to pose a risk. No reference was given, however.

Side effects
Approximately 20 % of the women treated with Menotropin have a multiple pregnancy.