Gonal-f Side Effects

Generic name: follicle stimulating hormone

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 2, 2025.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Gonal-f Side Effects associated with follicle stimulating hormone. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Gonal-f.

Applies to follicle stimulating hormone: subcutaneous powder for solution, subcutaneous solution.

Other dosage forms:

• subcutaneous solution

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that the medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects. Blood and urine tests, semen testing, and ultrasound examinations are needed to check for any unwanted effects caused by this medicine.

If you are a woman who can get pregnant, your doctor may do tests to make sure you are not pregnant before starting treatment. Call your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while you are using this medicine. You may have a higher risk of an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage if you get pregnant while undergoing IVF procedures. An ectopic pregnancy can be a serious and life-threatening condition. It can also cause problems that may make it harder for you to become pregnant in the future.

If your doctor has asked you to record your basal body temperature (BBT) daily, make sure that you know how to do this. Carefully follow your doctor's instructions.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth while you are using this medicine.

This medicine may increase your risk of having problems with the ovaries including twisting or enlargement of the ovaries, or ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). OHSS is a serious problem that can be life-threatening. Call your doctor right away if you have severe pain in the lower stomach area, nausea, vomiting, weight gain, diarrhea, decreased urine output, or trouble breathing.

This medicine may cause serious lung problems (eg, atelectasis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or asthma). Check with your doctor right away if you have blue lips, fingernails, or skin, coughing, difficulty or fast breathing, fever, rapid heartbeat, tightness in the chest, or trouble breathing.

This medicine may increase your risk of having a blood clot, heart attack, or stroke. This is more likely in people who already have heart disease. Contact your doctor right away if you have chest pain or tightness, a fast or irregular heartbeat, unusual flushing or warmth of the skin, increased coughing, trouble with breathing, a sudden difficulty with breathing at night, or abnormal swelling in your ankles or legs. These could be symptoms of serious heart problems or blood clots.

This medicine may cause more than one egg to be released from your ovary at the same time. This means you may become pregnant with more than one baby. Talk with your doctor about this possibility before you start using this medicine.

This medicine may increase your risk of having ovarian cancer if you received it more than one time to get pregnant. Talk to your doctor about this risk.

Serious side effects of Gonal-f

Along with its needed effects, follicle stimulating hormone (the active ingredient contained in Gonal-f) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking follicle stimulating hormone:

Other side effects of Gonal-f

Some side effects of follicle stimulating hormone may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to follicle stimulating hormone: injectable powder for injection, injectable solution, subcutaneous powder for injection, subcutaneous solution.

General adverse events

The most common adverse events were headache, ovarian cysts and local injection site reactions (e.g. pain, erythema, hematoma, swelling and/or irritation at the site of injection).^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Very common (10% or more): Multiple births (up to 35.1%), ovarian cysts, mild to moderate ovarian enlargement
• Common (1% to 10%): Mild or moderate OHSS (including symptomatology), intermenstrual bleeding, pelvic discomfort, ovarian hyperstimulation, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, gynecomastia (males), varicocele, epididymal cyst, vaginal hemorrhage, pelvic pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Severe OHSS (including symptomatology), breast complaints, metrorrhagia, ovarian cyst, ovarian enlargement, ovarian torsion, uterine enlargement, vaginal hemorrhage
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Complications of severe OHSS, adnexal torsion associated with ovarian enlargement
• Frequency not reported: Ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, multiple gestations
• Postmarketing reports: Breast tenderness^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Abdominal pain (up to 23.2%), abdomen enlarged (13.9%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal distension, abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain lower, flatulence
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Swollen abdomen^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Headache (up to 26.5%), dizziness
• Common (1% to 10%): Fatigue^[Ref]

Local

• Very common (10% or more): Injection site reactions (e.g. pain, erythema, hematoma, swelling and/or irritation at the site of injection)^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Acne, rash, dermoid cyst
• Frequency not reported: Bruising, swelling, erythema, urticaria, pruritus^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Common (1% to 10%): Weight gain^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Generalized hypersensitivity reaction
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Mild to severe hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylactic reactions and shock^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Thromboembolism, usually associated with severe OHSS^[Ref]

Other

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pain, influenza-like symptoms^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Exacerbation or aggravation of asthma^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Gonal-f side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer