Reproductive endocrinologists have been using synthetic growth hormones (GH) to help treat women suffering from infertility for more then 25 years. In particular, synthetic GH has shown increased potential in women who are classified as “poor responders” to traditional IVF techniques.

As such, growth hormones are a common fixture in the IVF treatment protocols for:

• Women with poor ovarian reserve testing

• Women over 38 years of age

• Women who require increased dosing in their gonadotropins therapy

One of the most common types of growth hormone used by infertility specialists is called Omnitrope®.

Omnitrope® is the brand name for somatropin, a form of human growth hormone associated with the growth of muscles and bones. In addition to its use in IVF protocols, Omnitrope® is also commonly prescribed to children diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency (GHD), Prader-Willi Syndrome, Turner Syndrome, and Idiopathic Short Stature.

Omnitrope® is used in infertility treatment plans to help treat women who need to compensate for a lack of the natural growth hormone being produced in their bodies. Specifically, Omnitrope® is used to enhance aromatase activity, which is needed to convert testosterone into estrogen within the body. By increasing the estrogen levels in the body, it helps stimulate the ovulation process.

Because oocytes harvested from follicles with a normal GH concentration in the antral fluid have been shown to be more fertile than those from follicles with low GH concentrations, Omnitrope®  is commonly prescribed to not only accelerate follicle maturation, but also to improve oocyte quality in women with low GH levels.

Omnitrope® comes available in pre-filled cartridges (5 mg or 10 mg/1.5 mL) for use with the included injector pen or in a vial (5.8 mg/mL) for reconstitution and injection. Regardless of the type of Omnitrope® prescribed, the drug is administered subcutaneously. The dosage of Omnitrope® can differ for each patient due to the varying factors associated. Because of this, following your physician’s instructions is extremely important for achieving the desired results.

Not all women may be ideal candidates for treatment with Omnitrope®. For instance, this medication should not be prescribed to patients with cancer or other tumors. It should also be avoided in women with allergies to growth hormones or any of the other ingredients included in the prefilled cartridges.

Patients diagnosed with diabetes-related eye problems, Prader-Willi syndrome, sleep apnea, or any critical illness caused by certain types of heart or stomach surgery, serious injury, or a sudden and severe breathing problem should also avoid Omnitrope®. It should also not be given to women who are already pregnant or nursing.

In some patients, Omnitrope® injections can cause side effects, ranging from mild to severe. The most common side effects reported include:

• Headache

• Edema (fluid retention)

• Local injection site pain, numbness, redness, or swelling

• Muscle or joint pain

• Tingling and numbness in hands or extremities

• Elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and sugar in the urine (glucosuria)

• Hypothyroidism

Less common, but more serious side effects can include:

• Return of tumor or cancerous growth

• Changes in vision

• Nausea or vomiting

• Increased pressure in the brain

• Pancreatitis

• Increased mortality risk in patients with Prader Willi syndrome

Omnitrope® should be stored in its original box in a refrigerator with an interior temperature between 36-46°F. Do not store in the freezer. Used Omnitrope® cartridges must be thrown away 28 days after the first injection. Keep this medication out of the reach of children, and do not keep the medication beyond its expiration date or in cases where it is no longer needed. Dispose of any unused medication in the garbage and any needles or syringes in a safe manner.

Sources:

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=58d84ffa-4056-4e36-ad67-7bd4aef444a5&type=display

https://www.Omnitrope® .com/getting-started/injection-training/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3183519/

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2019.00500/full

https://drgeoffreysherivf.com/human-growth-hormone-administration-in-ivf-does-it-enhance-eggembryo-quality-and-outcome/