Last update May 13, 2019

Lutropin Alfa

Low Risk

Possibly safe. Probably compatible. Mild risk possible. Follow up recommended. Read the Comment.

Luteinizing hormone (LH) is a hormone of the gonadotropin type found normally in the body. It is a glycopolypeptide which is synthesized and secreted by gonadotropic cells from the anterior part of the pituitary gland together with the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).

Lutropin alfa is an LH of recombinant origin.
Lutropin alfa is used, accompanied by follitropin (FSH), in infertility treatments to induce ovulation in women with LH deficiency in assisted reproduction programmes.
Afterwards, the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG) is usually administered to trigger ovulation.
Subcutaneous administration of a daily dose with ovarian ultrasound monitoring or urinary estrogen, up to 35 days according to evolution.

Since the last update we have not found any published data on its excretion in breast milk.

Its high molecular weight makes its excretion in breastmilk very unlikely.

Due to its glyco-proteic nature it is inactivated in the gastrointestinal tract, not being absorbed, (oral bioavailability is practically zero), which impedes transfer to infant plasma from breastmilk, except in premature babies and the immediate neonatal period, when there may be more intestinal permeability.

Although it causes an increase in the secretion of estradiol by the follicles (AEMPS 2005), there is no proof that its estrogenic effects decrease milk production.
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BREASTFEEDING and INFERTILITY TREATMENTS

In assisted reproduction treatments (ART) for infertility, two issues must be taken into account:

1. The possible effects of ART on the infant or breastfeeding.
The medication used, in general, does not interfere with breastfeeding and does not affect the infant, who in these cases is usually older than 6 months and even 1 or 2 years old.

2. The possible interference of breastfeeding with ART.
Breastfeeding, especially frequent, could hinder ovulation. This is the main reason why assisted reproduction services recommend suspending breastfeeding before starting treatment which is usually emotionally costly and, often, also from a financial perspective.

To date, there is no published data that proves that breastfeeding is incompatible with assisted reproduction techniques (ART).


See below the information of these related products:

Alternatives

We do not have alternatives for Lutropin Alfa.

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

Your contribution is essential for this service to continue to exist. We need the generosity of people like you who believe in the benefits of breastfeeding.

Thank you for helping to protect and promote breastfeeding.

José María Paricio, founder of e-lactancia.

Other names

Lutropin Alfa is also known as


Lutropin Alfa in other languages or writings:

Group

Lutropin Alfa belongs to this group or family:

Tradenames

Main tradenames from several countries containing Lutropin Alfa in its composition:

Pharmacokinetics

Variable Value Unit
Oral Bioavail. 0 %
Molecular weight 30.000 daltons
VD 0.16 - 0.23 l/Kg
Tmax 9 (4 - 16) hours
10 - 18 hours

References

  1. EMD. Lutropin Alpha (Luveris). Drug Summary. 2012 Full text (in our servers)
  2. Merck. Lutropina alfa (Luveris). Ficha técnica. 2005 Full text (in our servers)
  3. le Cotonnec JY, Porchet HC, Beltrami V, Munafo A. Clinical pharmacology of recombinant human luteinizing hormone: Part II. Bioavailability of recombinant human luteinizing hormone assessed with an immunoassay and an in vitro bioassay. Fertil Steril. 1998 Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)

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