HMG: what it is, what the studies show and where it stands
Menotropins is a preparation of gonadotropins with FSH and LH activity, extracted from the urine of postmenopausal women. Each Menopur vial holds 75 IU of FSH activity and 75 IU of LH activity.
At a glance
US Approved, prescription
Canada Authorized, prescription
Group Hormonal and sexual health
Sources 7
Checked 10 Oct 2026What is HMG?
Menotropins is a preparation of gonadotropins with FSH and LH activity, extracted from the urine of postmenopausal women. Each Menopur vial holds 75 IU of FSH activity and 75 IU of LH activity. [1]
Other names: menotropins, menotrophin, human menopausal gonadotropin, hMG, HP-hMG, Menopur.
How it has been given to people: injection under the skin on the US Menopur label; injection into a muscle in an older study in men.
Looking for doses? HMG dosage chart and vial math
Is HMG approved in the US and Canada?
United States: FDA approved. Menopur (Ferring) is the one menotropins product at prescription status in Drugs@FDA; Pergonal, Humegon and Repronex are listed as discontinued. [5]
Canada: Authorized by Health Canada. Menopur 75 unit vials (Ferring Inc) are listed as marketed; Repronex was cancelled after market in 2019. [6]
Both were checked on 10 Oct 2026 against the regulators' own product databases.
Which approved products contain HMG?
| Product | Country | Approved for | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menopur (75 IU vial) | US | Development of multiple follicles and pregnancy in ovulatory women as part of an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) cycle. | Label |
What human studies of HMG exist?
The 7 findings listed here: 5 from randomized human trials and 2 from smaller or observational human studies.
In 731 women having IVF, the ongoing pregnancy rate per cycle was 27% on highly purified hMG and 22% on recombinant FSH. [2]
That trial showed hMG was not worse than recombinant FSH; it did not show it was better. [2]
Fewer eggs were retrieved after hMG (10.0) than after recombinant FSH (11.8). [2]
The share of top-quality embryos was higher with hMG when graded at the local clinic but about the same when graded by a central panel. [3]
In the label's IVF trial, 87 of 373 women on Menopur (23%) had a continuing pregnancy after one cycle. [1]
In men with complete hypogonadotropic hypogonadism given hCG plus hMG 75 IU three times a week, none of the hCG/hMG group produced sperm at 12 months and eight of them did at 24 months. [4]
Sperm counts in those men stayed below 5 million per mL. [4]
What are the side effects of HMG?
Reported in human studies or on a label:
- Menopur label, reactions in 2% or more of women in assisted reproduction: abdominal cramps, enlarged abdomen, abdominal pain, headache, injection site pain, reaction and inflammation, and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). [1]
- In the two IVF trials on the label (434 women), OHSS was reported in 27 women, 6.2%. [1]
- Inflammation of a vein with a clot was reported in under 1%. [1]
Warnings on the label
- The label says it should be used only by physicians experienced in infertility treatment. [1]
- It can cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, with or without lung or blood vessel complications, and multiple births. [1]
- Early signs of OHSS are severe pelvic pain, nausea, vomiting and weight gain. [1]
- The label says to use the lowest dose that works. [1]
- Not for women with high FSH levels showing primary ovarian failure. [1]
- Not for use in pregnancy. [1]
- Not for anyone with a sex hormone dependent tumor of the reproductive tract, or a tumor of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus. [1]
- Not for anyone with uncontrolled thyroid, adrenal or pituitary disorders. [1]
- Not for anyone with a past hypersensitivity reaction to Menopur, menotropins products or one of their ingredients. [1]
What is the half-life of HMG?
FSH from Menopur had an elimination half-life of 11 to 13 hours after repeated doses, by injection under the skin or into a muscle. The label gives no half-life for the LH part. [1]
How does HMG compare with others in its group?
These are the peptides filed under hormonal and sexual health. The last column says whether a randomized human trial is on record for each.
| Peptide | US | Canada | Half-life | Randomized human trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PT-141 (bremelanotide) | Approved for one use | Not authorized | About 2.7 hours after a single subcutaneous dose (the label gives a range of 1.9 to 4.0 hours). Blood levels peak at about 1 hour. | Yes |
| Kisspeptin-10 | Not approved | Not authorized | Not found | Yes |
| Gonadorelin | No longer sold | No longer sold | Very short. After intravenous or subcutaneous injection, blood levels fall with an initial half-life of 2 to 10 minutes and a terminal half-life of 10 to 40 minutes. | No |
| Testagen | Not approved | Not authorized | Not found | No |
| HCG | Approved, prescription | Authorized, prescription | About 32 to 33 hours after a single injection of 5,000 or 10,000 IU in 18 healthy women, the same by muscle or under the skin. | Yes |
| HMG | Approved, prescription | Authorized, prescription | FSH from Menopur had an elimination half-life of 11 to 13 hours after repeated doses, by injection under the skin or into a muscle. The label gives no half-life for the LH part. | Yes |
What could not be found
These were searched for and did not turn up. They are listed so a missing number is not mistaken for a hidden one.
- A label dose for men. The US Menopur label covers one use, in women having assisted reproduction. The 75 IU three times a week figure for men is from one study of 11 men [4].
- A randomized trial of hMG in men with sperm output or pregnancy as the endpoint. The search turned up comparisons with GnRH and small series only.
- The Canadian Menopur product monograph was not opened. Label doses, warnings, side effects and storage in this file come from the US label.
- A half-life for the LH activity in menotropins. The US label reports FSH only.
- The daily dose used in the MERIT trial [2], [3]. The abstracts do not state it; the 225 IU starting dose is from the trial description on the US label.
- A newer US label than the one openFDA returns, dated 2018-05-31 (version 47). DailyMed itself was not checked for a later version.
HMG questions
Is HMG approved in the US?
FDA approved. Menopur (Ferring) is the one menotropins product at prescription status in Drugs@FDA; Pergonal, Humegon and Repronex are listed as discontinued.
Is HMG authorized in Canada?
Authorized by Health Canada. Menopur 75 unit vials (Ferring Inc) are listed as marketed; Repronex was cancelled after market in 2019.
What is the half-life of HMG?
FSH from Menopur had an elimination half-life of 11 to 13 hours after repeated doses, by injection under the skin or into a muscle. The label gives no half-life for the LH part.
Has HMG been tested in a randomized human trial?
Yes. At least one randomized human trial is listed on this page.
Sources
Each one was opened on 10 Oct 2026 and matched to the line it supports.
- Menopur (menotropins for injection), US prescribing information, Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc., label version 47 2018-05-31. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov.
- Andersen AN et al. Clinical outcome following stimulation with highly purified hMG or recombinant FSH in patients undergoing IVF: a randomized assessor-blind controlled trial. Hum Reprod 2006. PubMed 16873892.
- Ziebe S et al. Influence of ovarian stimulation with HP-hMG or recombinant FSH on embryo quality parameters in patients undergoing IVF. Hum Reprod 2007. PubMed 17640944.
- Liu L et al. Two-year comparison of testicular responses to pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone and exogenous gonadotropins from the inception of therapy in men with isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1988. PubMed 3142911.
- Drugs@FDA via openFDA: applications with active ingredient menotropins US Food and Drug Administration. api.fda.gov.
- Health Canada Drug Product Database: products with active ingredient menotropins, with status lookups Health Canada. health-products.canada.ca.
- The Prohibited List (2026 list as shown on the WADA website) World Anti-Doping Agency. wada-ama.org.
Next
HMG dosageHormonal and sexual healthStatus in Canada
DosageFacts is an information site. It is not medical advice. Talk to a licensed professional before using any medication.