Fertility · Injection guide
Rekovelle® (follitropin delta)
A stimulation medication whose dose is calculated individually from your body weight and AMH level, delivered by a dial-a-dose pen. Here is how to prime it, set your dose, and inject.
Quick facts
Always follow your clinic's instructions for dose and timing.
What it is
What is Rekovelle®?
Rekovelle® (follitropin delta) is a laboratory-made follicle-stimulating hormone used to stimulate the ovaries during IVF. Like other FSH medications, it encourages a group of follicles to grow, each one potentially containing an egg.
What sets it apart is how the dose is worked out. Rather than a standard starting dose adjusted as you go, your Rekovelle® dose is calculated from your body weight and your serum AMH — anti-Müllerian hormone — level. That individualised approach is intended to keep the ovarian response in a useful range across very different patients, and to reduce the risk of overstimulation.
It comes as a dial-a-dose pre-filled pen in three strengths: 12 micrograms in 0.36 mL, 36 micrograms in 1.08 mL, and 72 micrograms in 2.16 mL. Check you have the strength you were prescribed before you inject.
Normally
- Natural FSH
- One follicle matures
- One egg released
On Rekovelle®
- Dose set by weight and AMH
- Rekovelle® adds FSH
- Several follicles develop
- Response monitored through the cycle
Before you begin
Everything you need, on a clean surface
Storage: follow the leaflet supplied with your pen strength. Never freeze it, always store it with the needle removed and the cap replaced, keep it away from light, and keep it out of reach of children. Call us if your leaflet is missing and we will confirm the storage for your exact supply.
How to inject Rekovelle®, step by step
Six steps. Priming applies only to a brand-new pen; on every other day you go straight from the needle to your dose.
- 1
Prep
Before you begin
Wash your hands thoroughly. Check the pen is undamaged and that the solution inside is clear and free of particles — do not use it if it has particles or is not clear. Confirm you have the right pen strength and that it has not expired; there are three strengths, so this is worth a proper look rather than a glance. Lay out your needle, alcohol swab, gauze and sharps container.
Pharmacist tip: Your first injection must be given under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Injecting at home comes after adequate training, and only if they judge it appropriate for you.
- 2
Prep
Attach the needle
Remove the pen cap and peel the protective foil off a new needle. Push the needle straight onto the pen until you hear or feel a click. Take off both the outer and the inner needle caps, keeping the outer cap — you need it later to remove the needle safely. Use a new needle for every injection.
- 3
Prep
Prime a brand-new pen
Only the first time you use a pen. Turn the dose knob clockwise until the droplet symbol lines up with the dose indicator. Hold the pen upright with the needle pointing up and tap the cartridge gently so air bubbles rise. Press the injection button until “0” appears in the dose window and a drop of liquid appears at the needle tip.
Pharmacist tip: If no droplet appears after five attempts, fit a new needle and try again.
- 4
Inject
Set your dose
Turn the dose knob until your prescribed dose lines up with the indicator. You can dial up or down freely without wasting medication, so an overshoot is easily corrected. Check the displayed dose against your prescription before going further.
- 5
Inject
Give the injection
The normal injection site is the abdominal wall. Rotate to a different spot each day. Clean it with an alcohol swab and let it dry. Pinch a small fold of skin and insert the needle at a 90° angle. Press the injection button all the way in and hold it for five seconds, counting slowly, to deliver the full dose. Withdraw the needle straight out while still holding the button down.
- 6
After
After the injection
Use the outer cap to remove the needle safely, then drop it into your sharps container. Replace the pen cap for storage. Never reuse a needle, and never share a pen with anyone else, even with a fresh needle fitted.
What to expect
Side effects to know about
Common, usually mild
- Redness, bruising or discomfort at the injection site
- Headache
- Abdominal discomfort or bloating as follicles develop
Rare, but serious
- Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS): severe abdominal pain, marked bloating, nausea, vomiting or rapid weight gain — contact your clinic immediately
- Multiple pregnancy is a recognised risk of ovarian stimulation
- Report any new or worsening symptom to your fertility team rather than waiting for your next appointment
Common questions
Rekovelle® FAQ
Something not covered here? Call (905) 235 8820 and a pharmacist will walk you through it.
Do I need to prime the pen every time?
No. Priming is done only before the very first injection from a new pen. After that you go straight from attaching the needle to setting your dose.
How do I know the injection is finished?
Three things together: the injection button is pushed all the way in until it stops, the number “0” is lined up with the dose indicator, and you have slowly counted to five while still holding the button in with the needle in your skin.
Why do I have to count to five?
Holding the button for five seconds lets the full dose be delivered and absorbed under the skin. Withdrawing early can leave part of the dose behind.
The dose knob will not turn to my prescribed dose. What now?
That means the cartridge does not have enough medicine left for the full dose — the pen will not let you dial more than remains. You can either inject what is left and finish the prescribed dose with a new pen, which is called a split dose, or set a new pen to the full dose instead. If you are unsure which your clinic prefers, call us.
Why is my dose different from someone else on Rekovelle®?
Rekovelle® doses are calculated individually from body weight and serum AMH level, so two people on the same medication can be on quite different doses. Yours is set for you.
How should I store my pen between doses?
Storage instructions come with the strength you were dispensed, so follow the leaflet in your box rather than a general rule. As a habit: never freeze the pen, always store it with the needle removed and the cap on, keep it away from light, and keep it out of reach of children. If your leaflet is missing or unclear, call us at (905) 235 8820 and we will confirm it for your exact supply.
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.
Other guides
The rest of your protocol, explained
Stimulation · FSH
Gonal-F
Read the guide →Stimulation · FSH + LH
Menopur
Read the guide →Stimulation · FSH + LH
Pergoveris
Read the guide →Stimulation · LH
Luveris
Read the guide →Antagonist
Cetrotide
Read the guide →Antagonist
Orgalutran
Read the guide →Trigger shot
Ovidrel
Read the guide →Trigger shot
Pregnyl (hCG)
Read the guide →Rekovelle® in your protocol?
We dispense it the same day your clinic sends the prescription, deliver across the GTA, and counsel you through your first injection.