PCOS Treatment How to Use the Gonal-f Pen for Infertility and IVF By Nicole Galan, RN facebook twitter linkedin Nicole Galan, RN, is a registered nurse and the author of "The Everything Fertility Book." Learn about our editorial process Nicole Galan, RN Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD on April 20, 2020 facebook twitter linkedin instagram Anita Sadaty, MD, is board-certified in obstetrics-gynecology. She is a clinical assistant professor at Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine and founder of Redefining Health Medical. Learn about our Medical Review Board Anita Sadaty, MD on April 20, 2020 Print Follitropin alfa for injection (commonly known as the Gonal-f pen) is a type of medication used in fertility treatments to induce ovulation in women who have not been able to become pregnant due to problems with ovulation. It is a synthetic version of a hormone produced by the pituitary gland that helps stimulate egg development in the ovaries. Medic Images / Universal Images Group / Getty Images Follitropin alfa is also used by women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) to get pregnant. The Gonal-f pen is preloaded with medication and comes ready to use, but the amount of medication given and the length of time it needs to be taken for will vary from person to person. Always refer to your fertility specialist for the recommended schedule of injections and dosage amount specific to you. Using the pen is not difficult; however, it can be scary the first time. Using the Gonal-f Pen The Gonal-f pen has a visual scale right on it that lets you confirm whether the precise dose you need is ready to inject. This reduces the chance of making any dosing errors. Even still, it is important to follow the instructions that come along with the Gonal-f pen exactly. Below is an overview of how to use a Gonal pen, which takes about five minutes: What You Need Your prescribed Gonal-f Pen (300IU, 450IU, or 900IU)BD Micro-Fine NeedlesAlcohol wipesKleenex or TissueBandaid if necessarySharps containerMedication journalDose prescribed by your doctor 11 Steps to Using the Gonal-f Pen Gather and assemble everything you will need—a Gonal-f Pen, one needle, one alcohol wipe, and one tissue.Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.Swab the rubber stopper on the outside of the pen with an alcohol wipe. Allow to air dry.Remove the outer paper wrapper on the needle. Screw the needle onto the pen using a clockwise motion.Remove the outer needle shield.Dial the dose prescribed by your doctor by using the dial at the top of the pen to line up the dose with the arrow indicator.Pull on the dial in an outward motion until you hear the clicks and cannot pull the dial anymore.Swab the area you will be injecting with a second alcohol pad—the lower abdomen about an inch below the belly button or the front of the thigh about halfway down is preferable.Inject the needle and push the injection button (dial) at the top of the pen until it cannot be pushed in anymore. Keep the needle in the skin for at least 5 seconds.Remove the needle from the skin.Using the pen, scoop up the outer needle shield and carefully cover the needle. Unscrew the needle and immediately dispose of it safely (preferably in a sharps container). Tips Keep a pen and paper with the injection pen. Record the dose each day that you use the pen and subtract from the total number of units on the pen to keep track of what's left.Inject the pen in a quick, dart-like motion to minimize the discomfort of injection.Store the pen in the refrigerator if you will be using it again.You should not share your Gonal-f pen or needles with another person as you may give another person an infection or get an infection from them. Common Side Effects of the Gonal-f Pen Some of the common side effects of the Gonal-f pen include (and are not limited to) the following symptoms: HeadacheStomach painStomach bloatingBruising at the injection siteNausea Alert your doctor if you have any side effects, as the Gonal-f Pen can cause other serious side effects including ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), with or without lung or blood vessel problems. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Bühler K. Managing infertility with the follitropin alfa prefilled pen injector - patient considerations. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2015;11:995–1001. Published 2015 Jun 29. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S64222 Lunenfeld B, Bilger W, Longobardi S, Alam V, D'Hooghe T, Sunkara SK. The Development of Gonadotropins for Clinical Use in the Treatment of Infertility. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2019;10:429. Published 2019 Jul 3. doi:10.3389/fendo.2019.00429 Somkuti SG, Schertz JC, Moore M, Ferrande L, Kelly E; Gonal-F Prefilled Pen in OI Study 24785 Group. Patient experience with follitropin alfa prefilled pen versus previously used injectable gonadotropins for ovulation induction in oligoanovulatory women. Curr Med Res Opin. 2006;22(10):1981–1996. doi:10.1185/030079906X132604 Gonal-f RRF Redi-ject. Instructions for subcutaneous injection. EMD Serono. October 2013. Nahuis M, van der Veen F, Oosterhuis J, Mol BW, Hompes P, van Wely M. Review of the safety, efficacy, costs and patient acceptability of recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone for injection in assisting ovulation induction in infertile women. Int J Womens Health. 2010;1:205–211. Published 2010 Aug 9. doi:10.2147/ijwh.s4729 Additional Reading IVF Worldwide. Gonal-f Pen. http://www.ivf-worldwide.com/education/ivf-drug-in-use/ivf-guideline-for-drug-administration/instruction-to-inject-of-gonal-f.html.