Does Gonal-F need to be kept in the fridge?

Storage instructions vary by device and by whether it has been opened, so follow the patient information leaflet in the box and your clinic's instructions rather than guessing.

Do the injections hurt?

Many people find them uncomfortable rather than painful, but this varies. Your clinic nurse can show you technique to make injections easier.

What if I miss or am late giving a dose?

Contact your clinic as soon as you notice. Do not guess at what to do or double up, since timing during stimulation is monitored closely.

Will it affect a pregnancy test?

Gonal-F itself is not typically detected by home pregnancy tests, but ask your clinic about the correct timing for testing during your specific protocol.

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) injection

Gonal-F

Also known as Follitropin alfa

Written by Zayn Miah & R KhanomLast updated 17 September 2026Not clinically reviewed

Gonal-F is a lab-made version of follicle stimulating hormone, given by injection under the skin. It is one of the main medicines used to stimulate the ovaries during IVF.

Why it may be used

It is used to encourage the ovaries to grow multiple follicles, each of which may contain an egg, rather than the single follicle that develops in a natural cycle. This is done so that more than one egg can potentially be collected at egg retrieval.

Where it fits in a cycle

It is typically given during the stimulation phase of an IVF cycle, usually over a period of days that your clinic will specify, with progress checked by ultrasound scans and blood tests. Some mild or natural cycle protocols use it differently.

Side effects listed in the patient leaflet

Redness, bruising or discomfort at the injection site
Headache
Abdominal bloating or discomfort
Nausea
Breast tenderness
Mood changes
Ovarian enlargement during treatment

When to ring the clinic

•Rapid abdominal swelling or bloating that gets worse quickly
•Severe or worsening abdominal or pelvic pain
•Breathlessness or difficulty breathing
•Passing much less urine than usual
•Sudden weight gain, or signs of infection such as redness, warmth or pus at an injection site

Questions people ask

Does Gonal-F need to be kept in the fridge?: Storage instructions vary by device and by whether it has been opened, so follow the patient information leaflet in the box and your clinic's instructions rather than guessing.
Do the injections hurt?: Many people find them uncomfortable rather than painful, but this varies. Your clinic nurse can show you technique to make injections easier.
What if I miss or am late giving a dose?: Contact your clinic as soon as you notice. Do not guess at what to do or double up, since timing during stimulation is monitored closely.
Will it affect a pregnancy test?: Gonal-F itself is not typically detected by home pregnancy tests, but ask your clinic about the correct timing for testing during your specific protocol.

Safety

This page is general information, not medical advice, and does not replace guidance from your own clinical team.
Always follow the specific instructions and doses given by your clinic, which may differ from other people's protocols.
The patient information leaflet inside the medicine box is the authoritative source for this specific product.
Tell your clinic about any other medicines, supplements, allergies or existing medical conditions before starting treatment.

Sources

Patient information leaflets and product characteristics, electronic medicines compendium (emc). Link checked 17 September 2026.
IVF: what is IVF and how does it work?, HFEA (UK fertility regulator). Link checked 17 September 2026.

Written by patients, not clinicians. This page has not yet been reviewed by a named fertility professional, so it explains published guidance and points you to the original source instead of giving medical advice. It is not medical advice. Decisions about your treatment belong with your own clinic. Read our editorial policy and corrections policy.