How is it different from urinary hCG?

It is produced by recombinant DNA technology rather than purified from urine, giving a more consistent, higher-purity product; randomized trials and a Cochrane review show comparable efficacy and safety to urinary hCG.

Is choriogonadotropin alfa approved by regulators?

Yes. It is FDA-approved (as Ovidrel, 2000) and EMA-approved (as Ovitrelle) for use in assisted reproduction and ovulation induction under specialist care.

What are the main risks?

The key serious risk is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), and there is an increased chance of multiple pregnancy; injection-site reactions, headache and abdominal discomfort are common.

Can it be used for anything outside fertility treatment?

It is a prescription fertility medicine and should only be used under a clinician's supervision; the encyclopedia does not endorse non-medical or performance use.

EMA-approvedaka Ovidrel

Choriogonadotropin alfa — Complete Research Guide (2026)

Last updated 2026-06-30

TL;DR

Choriogonadotropin alfa (also known as Ovidrel) is a peptide catalogued under Sexual Health (Recombinant hCG). Neutral reference entry; EU status: EU-approved prescription medicine.

What is Choriogonadotropin alfa?

Choriogonadotropin alfa is a recombinant form of human chorionic gonadotropin (r-hCG), marketed as Ovidrel (US) and Ovitrelle (EU). It is a prescription biologic approved by the FDA (2000) and EMA for triggering final oocyte maturation and ovulation in assisted reproductive technology (ART) and for inducing ovulation in anovulatory women.

Evidence is drawn from randomized controlled trials and a Cochrane systematic review comparing recombinant with urinary hCG; the drug is well characterized in human ART populations.

How does Choriogonadotropin alfa work?

It binds the shared LH/hCG receptor on ovarian granulosa and theca cells, mimicking the mid-cycle luteinizing hormone (LH) surge to drive resumption of meiosis, final oocyte maturation, ovulation, and corpus luteum formation.

What does the research say about Choriogonadotropin alfa?

Recombinant hCG achieves final oocyte maturation and ovulation rates comparable to urinary hCG, with similar clinical pregnancy outcomes. ^[1]
A single 250 microgram subcutaneous dose of choriogonadotropin alfa is clinically equivalent to standard urinary hCG doses for triggering, with a more consistent, higher-purity preparation. ^[2]
In ovulation induction for anovulatory or oligo-ovulatory women, recombinant hCG triggering is non-inferior to urine-derived hCG. ^[4]

Clinical research & studies

The references below are the primary sources cited throughout this guide. Each links directly to PubMed or the regulator. Where evidence is preclinical (animal or in-vitro), that is stated rather than implied.

[1] Recombinant versus urinary human chorionic gonadotrophin for final oocyte maturation triggering in IVF and ICSI cycles — Youssef MA et al., Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2016. (Systematic review / meta-analysis (human RCTs))
[2] Recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (rhCG) in assisted reproductive technology: results of a clinical trial comparing two doses of rhCG (Ovidrel) to urinary hCG (Profasi) for induction of final follicular maturation in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer — Chang P et al., Fertility and Sterility 2001. (Randomized controlled trial)
[3] Induction of final follicular maturation and early luteinization in women undergoing ovulation induction for assisted reproduction treatment - recombinant HCG versus urinary HCG. The European Recombinant Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin Study Group — European Recombinant Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin Study Group, Human Reproduction 2000. (Randomized controlled trial)
[4] Phase III trial comparing the efficacy and safety of recombinant- or urine-derived human chorionic gonadotropin for ovulation triggering in Japanese women diagnosed with anovulation or oligo-ovulation and undergoing ovulation induction with follitropin-alfa — Ikenaga H et al., Reproductive Medicine and Biology 2017. (Phase III randomized controlled trial)
[5] Dual trigger using recombinant HCG and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist improve oocyte maturity and embryo grading for normal responders in GnRH antagonist cycles: Randomized controlled trial — Ali SS et al., Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and Human Reproduction 2020. (Randomized controlled trial)
[6] A Multicenter, Randomized, Equivalence Trial of a New Recombinant Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Preparation versus Ovitrelle for Ovulation in Women Undergoing Intrauterine Insemination Following Ovarian Stimulation — Majumdar A et al., Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences 2019. (Randomized equivalence trial)

Dosing context

This is not medical advice or a usage recommendation. Dosing figures are reported research context only, cited from the published literature.

In monitored ART cycles it is given as a single subcutaneous injection (commonly 250 micrograms) once lead follicles reach target size, roughly 24-36 hours before oocyte retrieval or timed intercourse/insemination.

Dosing and timing are individualized to follicle number and estradiol level; figures here are context only and not a dosing recommendation.

Side effects & safety profile

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is the principal serious class risk; hCG triggering sustains the syndrome, so it is avoided or dose-reduced (or replaced by a GnRH-agonist trigger) in high responders.

Multiple pregnancy risk rises with the number of mature follicles recruited during stimulation.

Common local effects are injection-site pain, bruising and reactions; systemic effects can include headache, abdominal or pelvic discomfort, nausea and fatigue. Use requires ultrasound and hormonal monitoring by a fertility specialist.

Stacking & combinations

In ART it follows FSH-based ovarian stimulation as the ovulation trigger (FSH stimulation then hCG trigger), always under specialist supervision and cycle monitoring.

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Frequently asked questions

It is a recombinant hCG used to trigger final egg maturation and ovulation in IVF/ICSI cycles and to induce ovulation in some anovulatory women, always as part of a monitored fertility treatment.

References

[1] Recombinant versus urinary human chorionic gonadotrophin for final oocyte maturation triggering in IVF and ICSI cycles — Youssef MA et al., Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2016. PMID: 27106604. View sourceStudy: Systematic review / meta-analysis (human RCTs)Recombinant and urinary hCG produced comparable ongoing pregnancy, clinical pregnancy and OHSS rates for final oocyte maturation.
[2] Recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (rhCG) in assisted reproductive technology: results of a clinical trial comparing two doses of rhCG (Ovidrel) to urinary hCG (Profasi) for induction of final follicular maturation in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer — Chang P et al., Fertility and Sterility 2001. PMID: 11438321. View sourceStudy: Randomized controlled trialA 250 microgram dose of recombinant hCG was as effective as urinary hCG for inducing final follicular maturation in IVF-ET.
[3] Induction of final follicular maturation and early luteinization in women undergoing ovulation induction for assisted reproduction treatment - recombinant HCG versus urinary HCG. The European Recombinant Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin Study Group — European Recombinant Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin Study Group, Human Reproduction 2000. PMID: 10875887. View sourceStudy: Randomized controlled trialRecombinant hCG induced final follicular maturation and luteinization effectively and was comparable to urinary hCG.
[4] Phase III trial comparing the efficacy and safety of recombinant- or urine-derived human chorionic gonadotropin for ovulation triggering in Japanese women diagnosed with anovulation or oligo-ovulation and undergoing ovulation induction with follitropin-alfa — Ikenaga H et al., Reproductive Medicine and Biology 2017. PMID: 29259450. View sourceStudy: Phase III randomized controlled trialRecombinant hCG was non-inferior to urine-derived hCG for ovulation triggering in anovulatory/oligo-ovulatory women.
[5] Dual trigger using recombinant HCG and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist improve oocyte maturity and embryo grading for normal responders in GnRH antagonist cycles: Randomized controlled trial — Ali SS et al., Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and Human Reproduction 2020. PMID: 32173633. View sourceStudy: Randomized controlled trialA dual trigger combining recombinant hCG with a GnRH agonist improved oocyte maturity and embryo grading in normal responders.
[6] A Multicenter, Randomized, Equivalence Trial of a New Recombinant Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Preparation versus Ovitrelle for Ovulation in Women Undergoing Intrauterine Insemination Following Ovarian Stimulation — Majumdar A et al., Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences 2019. PMID: 31007468. View sourceStudy: Randomized equivalence trialA new recombinant hCG preparation was equivalent to Ovitrelle for triggering ovulation before intrauterine insemination.

This article is for educational and research purposes only. Peptides discussed here are not approved for human consumption by the FDA, EMA, or equivalent regulators outside of specific clinical contexts. Always consult a licensed medical professional before any therapeutic use.