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IVF Medications: What They Are and How They Work

Going through an IVF cycle involves more than just lab work and procedures — fertility medications are central to every stage. Understanding what medications are used, how they function, when they are taken, and how monitoring works can help patients feel more confident and informed.

Introducing IVF Medications: Role & Purpose

IVF (in vitro fertilization) aims to retrieve multiple mature eggs, fertilize them in the lab, and then transfer embryos back into the uterus. To enable this, IVF medications are used for a few main purposes.

• Ovarian stimulation: to encourage the ovaries to produce multiple follicles (each containing an egg), rather than the single egg that is typical of a natural menstrual cycle.
• Suppression/control of the natural cycle: to prevent premature ovulation (i.e. the body’s natural release of eggs) before the clinic can retrieve them. This ensures better timing and reduces the risk of eggs being lost.
• Triggering final maturation & ovulation timing: once the follicles have grown sufficiently, a “trigger shot” is given to mature the eggs and time egg retrieval.
• Supporting the uterine lining/implantation (luteal support): after egg retrieval and embryo transfer, hormones (especially progesterone) are supplemented to support the uterine lining and early pregnancy.

Types of Medications Used in an IVF Cycle

Here are the major categories of medications used during IVF, along with examples as used by PCRM:

What Patients Can Expect: Timing, Injections, Monitoring

Below is a general outline of how IVF medication regimens typically unfold at PCRM, and what you’ll experience.

1. Cycle Start & Pituitary Suppression

• You begin with medications (GnRH agonist) to suppress natural hormonal fluctuations. This ensures you do not ovulate “too soon” and allows the clinic to control timing.
• Sometimes oral medications or tablets for suppression are used, depending on protocol.

2. Ovarian Stimulation Phase

• Daily injections of FSH (sometimes FSH + LH) to grow multiple follicles. You may also need to add an antagonist to help prevent premature ovulation by blocking the release of luteinizing hormone.
• Close monitoring with repeated ultrasounds (transvaginal ultrasound) to check follicle size/count, and blood tests to assess hormone levels (estradiol, etc.).

3. Trigger Shot

• Once a sufficient number of follicles reach an appropriate size (often ≥17 mm), a trigger injection (hCG or sometimes GnRH agonist mimic) is administered around 36 hours prior to egg retrieval.

4. Egg Retrieval

• A minor surgical procedure under sedation takes place to collect eggs. Then, fertilization happens in the lab. Not a “medication” stage per se, but timing depends entirely on when medications have stimulated follicles.

5. Luteal Support & Embryo Transfer

• After retrieval & embryo culture, embryo(s) are transferred (often day 5 for blastocyst) or frozen. Progesterone supplementation is given the day after an egg retrieval (vaginal or injectable) to support implantation. If the pregnancy test is positive, support continues (e.g., for several weeks).

6. Monitoring Throughout

• You will have regular clinic visits (often every 1–3 days during stimulation) for ultrasound + blood tests.
• Watch for side effects, risks like ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Adjust medication doses or timing if needed.

Cost & Insurance / What Patients Should Know

• IVF medications vary widely in cost. At PCRM, oral agents like letrozole or clomiphene may cost under CAD $100, whereas injectable IVF-stimulation medications may cost CAD $4,000–$6,000 depending on the drug, dosage, and response.
• None of the fertility medications are covered by provincial medication plans in BC, meaning patients will generally pay out-of-pocket or via private insurance if they have extended coverage in their plan.
• It’s important to check your private/extended health insurance coverage; some medications or portions may be covered. PCRM provides a list of commonly used med names and Drug Identification Numbers to help with claims.

PCRM’s Support: Navigating Fertility Medications with Confidence

PCRM does more than just prescribe and administer these medications. They offer multiple layers of support to help you manage this often complex part of IVF:

• On-site fertility pharmacy/dispensary: Patients can access fertility & hormonal medications directly through the clinic pharmacy, making it more convenient and ensuring medications are handled correctly.
• Teaching & educational materials: The clinic offers injection-teaching visits, videos (e.g., for Gonal-F or Puregon pens, etc.), to help patients administer injections safely and with confidence.
• Financial Concierge & Insurance Help: After your new-patient consult, PCRM provides support to understand what your medication costs will be, what insurance may or may not cover, and to provide letters/invoices for insurance/tax purposes.
• Personalized protocols: Because individuals vary (age, ovarian reserve, past response, other health issues), PCRM tailors medication types, dosages, and timing to your specific needs — which helps maximize efficacy while minimizing risks/side effects.

Fertility medications are a central pillar of IVF. They stimulate the ovaries, control cycle timing, trigger egg maturation, and support implantation. Knowing what drugs might be involved, when and how they are used, what monitoring to expect, and what costs might look like can help reduce anxiety and allow better preparation.

If you're considering IVF and want detailed information about what your medication plan might involve, or what the cost might be in your case, PCRM’s Fertility Medications page is an excellent place to start.

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