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Research Use Only18+Not for Human ConsumptionReconstitution Materials Not Supplied
Peptide Database

Reproductive & sexual-function research

HMG (Human Menopausal Gonadotropin): Research, Mechanism & Current Evidence

Purified FSH and LH preparation from urine, long used in fertility medicine and endocrine research.

Also known as human menopausal gonadotropin · menotropins · Menopur · Human Menopausal Gonadotropin

Research use onlyStrongest evidence: controlled clinical trialReviewed
DatabaseReferences

What is HMG?

HMG, or human menopausal gonadotropin, is a purified preparation containing two reproductive hormones — follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH) — in roughly equal measure. It is extracted from the urine of postmenopausal women, whose hormone output is naturally high.

It is an established, approved medicine used in fertility treatment, not an experimental compound.

Status: Approved medicine used in fertility treatment.

What is HMG researched for?

Ovarian stimulation in assisted reproduction is the principal clinical and research use.

In men, it is studied for stimulating sperm production in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

A recurring research question is whether urine-derived preparations containing both hormones differ in outcome from recombinant FSH alone.

  • Stimulates follicular development in anovulatory women.
  • Used in IVF protocols to stimulate multiple follicle development.
  • Effective for inducing ovulation in polycystic ovary syndrome patients.
  • FSH promotes sperm production; LH stimulates testosterone for sperm development.
  • Treats male infertility due to insufficient gonadotropin production.
  • LH component stimulates testicular testosterone production.

How does HMG work?

FSH prompts ovarian follicles to develop; LH supports the hormone production that accompanies that development and triggers release of the egg. Supplying both mirrors the natural signalling more closely than FSH alone.

In men the same two hormones act on the testes: LH on testosterone-producing Leydig cells and FSH on sperm production.

Reported targets: FSH receptor

What does the research show?

Decades of randomised trials and meta-analyses compare HMG with recombinant FSH in IVF. Results differ by outcome measure and population, and the question is not fully settled.

Its use in male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is established clinical practice supported by published series.

Limitations of the current evidence

Urine-derived preparations vary more between batches than recombinant products.

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is a recognised risk of gonadotropin stimulation and is why this class is used under specialist supervision.

References

  1. Human Menopausal Gonadotropin ScienceDirect

    2024

    HMG contains FSH and LH in 1:1 ratio extracted from postmenopausal urine.

  2. HMG vs Recombinant FSH in PCOS Patients Undergoing IVF PMC/NCBI

    2013

    No significant differences in pregnancy rates between FSH alone, rFSH+HMG, and rFSH+rLH groups.

  3. Effect of HMG and HP-FSH on IVF Outcomes Human Reproduction

    1996

    Beneficial effects of HMG on fertilization rates and pre-embryo development compared to HP-FSH.

  4. Generic hMG vs Costly FSH for Ovulation Induction PubMed

    2001

    Generic hMG products do not adversely affect pregnancy rates and are appropriate cost-effective alternatives.

Common questions

Is HMG derived from human urine really safe?

Yes. HMG is extracted from postmenopausal women's urine and has been used clinically for decades with excellent safety data. Modern purification processes make it equivalent to recombinant versions in terms of safety and efficacy.