Follitropin (FSH)

Controlled ovarian stimulation for IVF

Sold as Gonal-f, Follistim, Bemfola, Rekovelle

Updated weekly · checked 10 h ago

2,009FAERS reports (all-time)

Recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone injected daily to grow multiple follicles during an IVF stimulation cycle. A biologic, so a low-cost generic acquisition price is usually not published.

In a cycle

When it is given

Daily subcutaneous injections through the stimulation phase of an IVF or egg-freezing cycle, with the dose adjusted at each monitoring scan and blood draw based on how the ovaries respond.

Cost

What it actually costs

The national average price a US pharmacy pays to acquire this drug, published by CMS for every priced package. A wholesale floor, not a retail quote.

No published generic acquisition price

CMS publishes an average acquisition cost only for drugs with generic pharmacy supply. Biologic gonadotropins usually have none, so no figure is shown here rather than an estimated one.

Across a whole stimulation cycle, medication typically totals $3,000–$7,000, which is the number that matters for a budget. See the full cycle breakdown or how families pay for it.

FDA label

What the prescribing information says

The current FDA structured product label, as published through openFDA and DailyMed. Excerpted verbatim, not summarised.

What the FDA label approves it for

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE GONAL-f is indicated for: GONAL-f is a gonadotropin indicated for: Women: Induction of ovulation and pregnancy in oligo-anovulatory infertile women for whom the cause of infertility is functional and not due to primary ovarian failure. ( 1.1 ) Development of multiple follicles in ovulatory infertile women as part of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) cycles. ( 1.2 ) Men: Induction of spermatogenesis in infertile men with primary and secondary hypogonadotropic hypogonadism for whom the cause of infertility is not due to primary testicular failure. ( 1.3 ) 1.1 Induction of ovulation and pregnancy in oligo-anovulatory infertile women for whom the cause of infertility is functional and not due to primary ovarian failure. 1.2 Development of multiple follicles in ovulatory infertile women as part of an assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycle. 1.3 Induction of spermatogenesis in infertile men with primary and secondary hypogonadotropic hypogonadism for whom the cause of infertility is not due to primary testicular failure.

Dosage and administration

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Induction of Ovulation ( 2.3 ) Initial starting dose of the first cycle - 75 International Units of GONAL-f per day for 14 days, administered subcutaneously Individualize doses after 14 days Do not administer doses greater than 300 International Units per day Development of Multiple Follicles in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) ( 2.3 ) Initial starting dose of the first cycle - 150 International Units per day, administered subcutaneously Dosage adjustments after 3 to 5 days and by 75 to 150 International Units at each adjustment Do not administer doses greater than 450 International Units per day Males with Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism and Azoospermia ( 2.4 ) Use in conjunction with hCG. Prior to concomitant therapy with GONAL-f and hCG, pretreat with 1,000 to 2,250 USP units of hCG alone two to three times per week to achieve normal serum testosterone levels, which may take 3 to 6 months. After normalization of serum testosterone, administer 150 International Units of GONAL-f subcutaneously three times a week and 1,000 USP units of hCG (or the dose required to maintain serum testosterone levels within the normal range) three times a week. 2.1 Imp

Warnings and cautions

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Hypersensitivity Reactions and Anaphylaxis: If occurs, initiate appropriate therapy including supportive measures, and discontinue GONAL-f ( 5.1 ) Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome: If serious, stop gonadotropins, including hCG, and determine if the woman needs to be hospitalized. Treatment is primarily symptomatic and consists of bed rest, fluid and electrolyte management, and analgesics ( 5.2 ) Pulmonary and Vascular Complications: In women with recognized risk factors, the benefits of induction of ovulation and ART need to be weighed against the risks. During or after use of GONAL-f, monitor for venous or arterial thromboembolic events ( 5.3 ) Ovarian Torsion: Early diagnosis and immediate detorsion limit damage to the ovary due to reduced blood supply ( 5.4 ) Abnormal Ovarian Enlargement: If the ovaries are abnormally enlarged on the last day of GONAL-f therapy, inform women not to administer hCG and to avoid intercourse ( 5.5 ) Multi-fetal Gestation and Births: The rate of multiple births is dependent on the number of embryos transferred. Advise the woman and her partner of the potential risk of multi-fetal gestation and birth before beginning therap

Contraindications

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS GONAL-f is contraindicated in women and men who exhibit: Prior hypersensitivity to recombinant FSH products or one of their excipients. Reactions have included anaphylaxis [see Warning and Precautions (5.1) ] High levels of FSH indicating primary gonadal failure The presence of uncontrolled non-gonadal endocrinopathies (for example, thyroid, adrenal, or pituitary disorders) Sex hormone dependent tumors of the reproductive tract and accessory organs Tumors of pituitary gland or hypothalamus GONAL-f is also contraindicated in women who exhibit: Abnormal uterine bleeding of undetermined origin Ovarian cyst or enlargement of undetermined origin GONAL-f is contraindicated in women and men who exhibit ( 4 ): Prior hypersensitivity to recombinant FSH products or one of their excipients High levels of FSH indicating primary gonadal failure Uncontrolled non-gonadal endocrinopathies Sex hormone dependent tumors of the reproductive tract and accessory organs Tumors of pituitary gland or hypothalamus GONAL-f is also contraindicated in women who exhibit ( 4 ): Abnormal uterine bleeding of undetermined origin Ovarian cyst or enlargement of undetermined origin

Label for Gonal-f, source: openFDA structured product labels · as of Sep 5, 2026

Reported adverse events

What has been reported to the FDA

FAERS is a voluntary reporting system. A high count reflects how widely a drug is used and how often people report, not how dangerous it is, and a report is not proof the drug caused the event.

2,009reports, all-time

1,675flagged serious

ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome 687
ascites 223
abdominal pain 128
abortion spontaneous 124
abdominal distension 116
nausea 101

Source: openFDA FAERS (drug adverse events) · as of Sep 5, 2026

Common questions

About Follitropin (FSH)

What is Follitropin (FSH) used for in fertility treatment?

Recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone injected daily to grow multiple follicles during an IVF stimulation cycle. A biologic, so a low-cost generic acquisition price is usually not published. Daily subcutaneous injections through the stimulation phase of an IVF or egg-freezing cycle, with the dose adjusted at each monitoring scan and blood draw based on how the ovaries respond.

How is Follitropin (FSH) given?

Injectable. Daily subcutaneous injections through the stimulation phase of an IVF or egg-freezing cycle, with the dose adjusted at each monitoring scan and blood draw based on how the ovaries respond.

Why is there no listed price for Follitropin (FSH)?

CMS publishes a national average acquisition cost only for drugs with generic pharmacy supply, and Follitropin (FSH) has no published generic acquisition price. Rather than estimate one, this page leaves it absent. Across a whole IVF cycle, stimulation medication typically totals $3,000 to $7,000.

Other medications in a cycle

NADAC is the national average price a pharmacy pays to acquire a drug, not the cash price you are charged and not what a clinic bills for a medicated cycle. Dosing here is quoted from the FDA label and is not a prescription: your protocol comes from your clinic. IVFcost.co is an informational data platform, not a medical provider, clinic, or laboratory. Nothing here is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to start, stop, or change any treatment. Success rates depend heavily on individual circumstances and are not a promise of any outcome. Data is aggregated from public sources and can be incomplete or out of date. Always confirm with a licensed clinician and the clinic's own current figures.