lutropin alfa at a glance
Medicine class
Recombinant human luteinising hormone; a gonadotrophin.
Licensed role
Follicle stimulation in adult women with severe LH and FSH deficiency, used with FSH.
Administration
Injected under the skin after appropriate training; the first injection should be medically supervised.
Monitoring
Ovarian response is assessed using ultrasound and oestrogen measurements.
What is lutropin alfa used for?
The selected product is licensed only as part of specialist fertility treatment.
In association with an FSH preparation, stimulation of follicular development in adult women with severe LH and FSH deficiency.
How does lutropin alfa work?
Lutropin alfa acts like natural LH. In the ovary, LH stimulates androgen production; these androgens can then be converted into oestrogen. Alongside FSH, this supports follicle growth, steroid production and maturation.
How to take lutropin alfa
Use only under the direction of a fertility specialist. The product is injected under the skin and may be self-administered only after training and with access to expert advice.
Reconstitute the powder with the supplied solvent immediately before use, swirling gently rather than shaking.
Use only a clear solution without particles.
Use each prepared vial once and discard unused solution and injection equipment safely.
It may be mixed with follitropin alfa only when specifically directed; lutropin alfa is dissolved first.
lutropin alfa side effects
Common or expected effects
- Injection-site pain, redness, bruising, itching, swelling or irritation
- Headache
- Abdominal or pelvic pain or discomfort
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
- Breast pain
- Ovarian cysts
- Mild or moderate ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
Get urgent medical advice
- Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome with increasing abdominal swelling or pain, vomiting, rapid weight gain, reduced urine or breathlessness
- Serious allergic reaction, including facial swelling, breathing difficulty or shock
- Blood clot symptoms such as chest pain, breathlessness, coughing blood, stroke-like symptoms or a swollen painful leg
- Possible ectopic pregnancy symptoms, including one-sided lower abdominal pain, shoulder-tip pain, faintness or unusual bleeding
lutropin alfa in pregnancy
Lutropin alfa is used to support fertility treatment but is not indicated once pregnancy has begun. Available pregnancy-exposure information is limited and cannot exclude fetal risk, so contact the fertility team before further use if pregnancy is suspected or confirmed.
lutropin alfa while breastfeeding
Lutropin alfa is not indicated during breastfeeding. Discuss feeding plans with the fertility specialist or prescriber before treatment.
lutropin alfa interactions
Formal interaction studies have not been performed. Tell the fertility team about all prescribed, non-prescribed and herbal products.
Follitropin alfa
It may be administered alongside lutropin alfa and may be mixed in the same injection when specifically directed; studies found no important change in either medicine's activity or stability.
Other injectable medicines
Do not mix them with lutropin alfa in the same injection because compatibility has not been established.
Common questions about lutropin alfa
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is lutropin alfa used for?
It is used with FSH to stimulate ovarian follicle development in adult women with severe LH and FSH deficiency.
Is lutropin alfa the same as luteinising hormone?
It is a laboratory-produced recombinant version of human luteinising hormone.
Why is lutropin alfa used with follitropin alfa?
LH and FSH have complementary roles: FSH primarily stimulates follicle growth, while LH supports steroid production and follicular maturation.
How is lutropin alfa injected?
It is injected under the skin. Self-injection is appropriate only after training, and the first injection should be supervised medically.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.