Menopur vs Gonal-f: Menotropins vs Follitropin Alfa
App Library Tools Pricing Download
[Fertility · Comparison]

Menopur vs Gonal-f: what is the difference for IVF?

Content · Approved uses · Dosing · Storage · IVF trials

Short answer: Menopur (menotropins) is purified from the urine of postmenopausal women and has both FSH and LH activity, 75 IU of each per vial; it is approved only for IVF-type cycles. Gonal-f (follitropin alfa) is lab-made FSH alone, in a prefilled pen, approved for IVF and for inducing ovulation.12 Two large IVF trials found similar ongoing pregnancy rates.

How do Menopur and Gonal-f compare side by side?

From the US Menopur and Gonal-f RFF Redi-ject labels unless noted. Label trial rows come from different trials.
Menopur (menotropins)Gonal-f RFF Redi-ject (follitropin alfa)
What it isFSH and LH activity extracted from the urine of postmenopausal women and purified; hCG is also detected1FSH only, made by recombinant DNA technology in hamster ovary cells2
Approved forGrowing multiple follicles in ovulatory women in an assisted reproduction (IVF) cycle1IVF-type cycles, and inducing ovulation in women who do not ovulate regularly2. The Gonal-f multi-dose kit is also approved for sperm production in some men3
FormPowder vials of 75 IU FSH and 75 IU LH, mixed with saline before injection; use right after mixing1Prefilled pen of 300, 450 or 900 IU, set in 12.5 IU steps2
IVF starting dose (label)225 IU a day from cycle day 2 or 31150 IU a day from cycle day 2 or 3; 225 IU in women 35 and older with suppressed hormones2
IVF dose limits (label)Adjust after 5 days, no more often than every 2 days, by up to 150 IU; no more than 450 IU a day or 20 days1Adjust after 5 days, no more often than every 3 to 5 days, by 75 to 150 IU; no more than 450 IU a day; usually up to 10 days2
Half-life of FSH11 to 13 hours after repeated doses1About 53 hours after a single 300 IU dose2
OHSS in its label IVF trial6.2% of 434 women14.6% of 237 women2
StoragePowder in the fridge or at room temperature (37°F to 77°F) until dispensed; protect from light1Fridge until expiry, or room temperature for up to 3 months; after first use, 28 days in the fridge or at room temperature2
Missed doseDo not double; call your provider1Do not double; call your provider2

Reviewed . Half-life figures are shown only where the value Dose Track uses agrees with the cited source.

Have they been compared in IVF trials?

Yes, as drug types. Two large randomized trials compared highly purified menotropin (the kind of product Menopur is) with recombinant FSH (the kind of drug Gonal-f is) in IVF cycles after a long GnRH agonist protocol. The abstracts do not name the recombinant brand.

  • European and Israeli trial, 2002: 781 women enrolled. Ongoing pregnancy 10 weeks after egg retrieval was 25% with menotropin vs 22% with recombinant FSH in the per-protocol group. OHSS, miscarriage and injection-site reactions were similar.4
  • MERiT, 2006: 731 women. Ongoing pregnancy per cycle was 27% vs 22% (odds ratio 1.25, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.75), which showed menotropin was not worse but did not show it was better. More eggs were retrieved with recombinant FSH (11.8 vs 10.0), while a higher share became top-quality embryos with menotropin (11.3% vs 9.0%).5

The Menopur label reports the first trial's result as non-inferior to recombinant FSH.1

Why does the LH matter?

Menopur supplies LH activity along with FSH; Gonal-f supplies FSH only.12 MERiT reported differences between the two in follicle development, egg and embryo quality, hormone levels and the look of the uterine lining, which the authors said may matter for outcomes.5 Which products and doses fit your cycle is set by your fertility clinic.

What is different day to day?

  • Mixing: Menopur is a powder mixed with saline and used right away. Gonal-f RFF Redi-ject comes ready in a pen.12
  • Before injecting: the Gonal-f label suggests taking the pen out of the fridge at least 30 minutes early to avoid a cold injection.2
  • Shared risks: both labels warn about OHSS, multiple pregnancy, ovarian torsion and ectopic pregnancy, and both end the stimulation with hCG once follicles are ready.12

The OHSS rates in the table come from each label's own trial, with different women and comparators, so they are not a head-to-head comparison.12

More detail: Menopur side effects, Gonal-f side effects, and the Menopur and Gonal-f dosing schedules.

Ovidrel vs Pregnyl: how do recombinant and urinary hCG differ?Prefilled syringe vs mix-it-yourself vial Letrozole vs Clomid: what is the difference for fertility?Off-label aromatase inhibitor vs approved ovulation pill

Frequently asked questions

Is Menopur the same as Gonal-f?+
No. Menopur comes from purified urine and has both FSH and LH activity. Gonal-f is lab-made FSH only.12
Which gives better IVF results?+
In two large randomized trials of menotropin vs recombinant FSH, ongoing pregnancy rates were similar (25% vs 22% and 27% vs 22%), and neither trial showed one was better.45
Can Menopur and Gonal-f be used in the same cycle?+
The US labels do not describe using them together. The only combination in the Menopur label is with Bravelle (urofollitropin), at a total starting dose of 225 IU. Your clinic sets the plan.1
How do I store them?+
Menopur powder can be kept in the fridge or at room temperature until dispensed and is used right after mixing. A Gonal-f pen lasts 28 days after first use, in the fridge or at room temperature.12
Can I track Menopur and Gonal-f in Dose Track?+
Yes. Log each injection with its IU dose and time, set evening reminders, and see your whole stimulation on one schedule.

Sources

  1. Menopur (menotropins for injection) prescribing information, sections 1, 2, 3, 6.1, 11, 12.3, 14, 16 and 17.3. DailyMed, version 47 (May 2026).
  2. Gonal-f RFF Redi-ject (follitropin alfa) injection prescribing information, sections 1, 2, 3, 6.1, 11, 12.3, 16 and 17.3. DailyMed, version of April 2025.
  3. Gonal-f (follitropin alfa) for injection, multi-dose kit, prescribing information, section 1. DailyMed, version of September 2025.
  4. European and Israeli Study Group on Highly Purified Menotropin versus Recombinant Follicle-Stimulating Hormone. Efficacy and safety of highly purified menotropin versus recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone in IVF/ICSI cycles: a randomized, comparative trial. Fertil Steril. 2002;78:520-528.
  5. 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;21:3217-3227.

All compound comparisons · All compound guides · Peptide tracking in Dose Track