Clinical Use

Follitropin alfa is a human FSH preparation of rDNA origin. Because FSH is a glycoprotein, alterations in the carbohydrate side-chain attachments afford different isoforms, which leads to different pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. Because it is of recombinant origin and not isolated from urine, it is free of any additional substances, such as urinary proteins and LH.
Like urofollitropin, it is marketed for enhancing the development of multiple follicles that can then be induced to ovulate, via hCG administration, so that the oocytes can be collected for IVF. It also is used in treating women who wish to become pregnant and are anovulatory because of polycystic ovary syndrome, in whom it can enhance follicle maturation before hCG administration for final ovulation. All commercial products can be administered by SC injection. The RFF notation signifies Revised Formulation Female, and the RFF Pen notation indicates a prefilled, ready-to-use device designed to make self administration easier.
Men with infertility also can benefit from therapy with follitropin alfa if their infertility is related to hypothalamic or pituitary hormonal dysfunction and not primary testicular failure, because it induces spermatogenesis. Just as with therapy using menotropins, pretreatment with hCG is performed for 3 months to achieve serum testosterone levels within the normal range, before hCG and follitropin alfa therapy.