Fertility · Injection guide
Gonal-F® (follitropin alfa)
The daily injection that does most of the work in a stimulation cycle. Gonal-F® encourages a group of follicles to grow instead of the usual one, and your dose is adjusted as your clinic monitors you. Here is how to prime the pen and inject it.
Quick facts
Always follow your clinic's instructions for dose and timing.
What it is
What is Gonal-F®?
Gonal-F® (follitropin alfa) is a laboratory-made version of follicle-stimulating hormone, the hormone your body already uses to grow ovarian follicles each cycle.
In fertility treatment it does that job on a larger scale: instead of the single follicle a natural cycle usually matures, Gonal-F® encourages a group of them to develop, so your clinic has several eggs to work with for IVF or IUI. It is also prescribed to men with certain forms of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism to support sperm production.
It comes in pre-filled pens, which is what makes precise daily dose adjustment possible. Your clinic will change your dose based on your monitoring appointments, so the number you dial may not be the same every day.
Normally
- Natural FSH
- One follicle matures
- One egg released
On Gonal-F®
- Gonal-F® adds FSH
- A group of follicles develops
- Monitoring guides the dose
- Several eggs for retrieval
Before you begin
Everything you need, on a clean surface
Storage: unopened pens in the refrigerator between 2–8°C. Once a pen is in use it can stay at room temperature, up to 25°C, for a maximum of 28 days. Never freeze it, always store it with the needle removed, and keep it away from light and out of reach of children.
How to inject Gonal-F®, step by step
Six steps. Priming applies only the first time you use a new pen; every day after that you go straight from preparing the pen to setting your dose.
- 1
Prep
Before you begin
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Take the carton out of the refrigerator at least 30 minutes beforehand so it warms to room temperature. Lay out everything you need on a clean surface: the pen, a new single-use 8 mm 31 gauge needle, alcohol swabs, and your sharps container.
Pharmacist tip: Never warm the pen with a microwave or a heater — time on the counter is the only safe way. And never shake the pen; shaking puts air bubbles in the medication.
- 2
Prep
Prepare the pen
Remove the pen cap and look at the solution in the reservoir holder — it should be clear and free of particles. Do not use the pen if the solution is cloudy or the reservoir is cracked. Wipe the rubber centre of the threaded tip with an alcohol swab and confirm the dose display reads “0”. Take a new needle, remove the peel-off seal, and twist it on gently until secure. Pull off the outer needle cap and set it aside — you need it later. Remove and discard the inner green shield.
- 3
Prep
Prime a brand-new pen
Only on the first use of a pen. Hold it upright with the needle pointing up and turn the dose knob clockwise until “25” shows in the display. Tap the reservoir gently so any air bubbles rise, then press the dose button fully. A small drop should appear at the needle tip. If nothing appears, repeat until it does. Once primed, make sure the display is back to “0”.
- 4
Inject
Set your dose
Turn the dose knob clockwise to the dose your clinic prescribed, taking care not to push or pull the knob while you turn it. If you overshoot, turn it counterclockwise to come back down. Check the number against your prescription before you go any further.
Pharmacist tip: Your prescribed dose can change between monitoring appointments. Dial what today’s instruction says, not what you injected yesterday.
- 5
Inject
Give the injection
Choose a site on your lower abdomen or upper thigh as your doctor directed, and use a different spot each day to reduce skin irritation. Clean it with an alcohol swab and let it dry. Pinch the skin gently to raise a small fold, insert the needle at a 90° angle, and press the injection button all the way down. Hold the needle in place for at least five seconds. Keep pressing the button as you withdraw the needle, and only release it once the needle is out.
- 6
After
After the injection
Check that the dose display reads “0”. If a number is still showing, the pen ran out before the full dose went in, and that number is how much you still need — give the remainder with a new pen. To take the needle off, put the outer cap on a flat surface, guide the pen into it, push down gently until it clicks, then unscrew the needle into your sharps container. Never reuse a needle, and always store the pen with the needle off and the cap on.
See it laid out
Prefer to see it before you try it?
The same steps, illustrated. Call and our pharmacist will walk you through your first Gonal-F® dose in person or on the phone.
What to expect
Side effects to know about
Common, usually mild
- Reactions where you inject: redness, bruising, swelling or itching
- Headache
- Abdominal pain or bloating as the follicles grow
Rare, but serious
- Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS): severe stomach or pelvic pain, marked bloating, nausea, vomiting or rapid weight gain — contact your clinic immediately
- Multiple pregnancy is a recognised risk of ovarian stimulation; discuss it with your doctor before starting
- Report any new or worsening symptom to your fertility team rather than waiting for your next monitoring appointment
Common questions
Gonal-F® FAQ
Something not covered here? Call (905) 235 8820 and a pharmacist will walk you through it.
I dialled the wrong dose. How do I fix it?
If you have set a dose higher than prescribed, turn the dose knob counterclockwise until the correct number shows in the display. Never inject more than your doctor prescribed. If you are not certain, call your clinic before you inject.
How do I know the full dose actually went in?
The dose display should read “0” afterwards. If a number is still visible, the pen was empty before the full dose was delivered, and that number is the amount still owed. Prepare a new pen, set it to the missing amount, and inject as usual.
Can I reuse the needle?
No. Every injection needs a new single-use needle. Reusing needles raises the risk of contamination and infection, and blunts the needle, which makes the injection hurt more.
The injection button will not press. What now?
That usually means the pen is empty. Do not force it. Check the dose display — if part of your prescribed dose is still owed, finish it with a new pen.
How do I store the pen between doses?
Unopened pens go in the refrigerator between 2–8°C. Once you have started a pen, you may keep it at room temperature, up to 25°C, for a maximum of 28 days. Do not freeze it, always store it with the needle removed, keep it away from light, and keep it out of reach of children.
Where this comes from
Checked against the official record
Every clinical statement on this page was checked against the sources below, then reviewed by our pharmacist. If something here does not match what your clinic told you, follow your clinic and call us.
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We dispense it the same day your clinic sends the prescription, deliver across the GTA, and counsel you through your first injection.