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FDA approved

HMG (Menotropins)

Also known as HMG · human menopausal gonadotropin · menotropins · Menopur

FDA-approved gonadotropin preparation (Menopur) with combined FSH and LH activity

Last reviewed · Educational reference — not medical advice.

Half-life
Documented in the approved product labelling
Route
Subcutaneous or intramuscular injection, clinician-supervised
Status
FDA-approved biologic — Menopur, BLA021663
Mechanism
Supplies both FSH and LH activity. FSH acts on Sertoli cells in men and granulosa cells in women to drive gametogenesis and follicular development; LH activity drives Leydig cell steroidogenesis in men and supports ovulation in women.
01

Overview

HMG — human menopausal gonadotropin, generic name menotropins — is unlike most compounds in this catalogue: it is an FDA-approved biologic, marketed as Menopur under BLA021663, confirmed against the openFDA drug label database.

It is a purified gonadotropin preparation providing both follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone activity. That combination is what distinguishes it from recombinant FSH alone. In female fertility treatment it drives follicular development for assisted reproduction. In male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism it is used alongside hCG: hCG supplies the LH-like signal that drives Leydig cell testosterone production, while the FSH activity in HMG supports Sertoli cell function and spermatogenesis, which hCG alone often cannot fully restore.

That male-fertility role is why it appears on peptide vendor sites, generally positioned around fertility preservation during testosterone replacement therapy. The underlying clinical rationale is genuine and well represented in the literature — but this is a prescription biologic requiring monitoring, not a research chemical. Gonadotropin therapy carries substantive risks, including ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and multiple pregnancy in female use.

Professor Peptides catalogues research compounds for laboratory use. This entry exists to document what HMG is and to be clear that it sits outside that category: it is an approved drug that should be obtained and supervised through a clinician.

Research areasHypogonadotropic hypogonadismSpermatogenesis inductionAssisted reproductionCombined FSH/LH gonadotropin therapy
02

What the evidence shows

Separated by study type
HumanClinical trials and human studies
Approved for human use. Combined hCG plus FSH-activity regimens for inducing spermatogenesis in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism are extensively represented in the clinical literature.
AnimalRodent and other animal models
Not the primary evidence base; this is an approved human biologic.
In vitroCell and tissue studies
Not the primary evidence base.
03

Key studies & findings

2 studies
  1. 1

    Menotropins are FDA-approved and marketed as Menopur under application BLA021663, verified against the openFDA drug label database.

    openFDA drug label database

  2. 2

    Combined hCG and FSH-activity gonadotropin regimens for inducing spermatogenesis in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism are a well-established clinical approach with a substantial published literature.

    ClinicalPubMed clinical literature on hypogonadotropic hypogonadism

04

Benefits & effects

3 documented

  • Supplies combined FSH and LH activity in a single preparation

    HumanVerified

  • Supports spermatogenesis alongside hCG in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism

    HumanVerified

  • Drives follicular development in assisted reproduction

    HumanVerified
05

Side effects & safety

4 reported

Safety notePrescription biologic. Gonadotropin therapy carries real risks including ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and multiple pregnancy, and requires monitoring by a clinician. Not a research chemical and not appropriate for unsupervised use.

  • Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in female use

    unknown

  • Multiple pregnancy risk in female use

    unknown

  • Injection site reactions

    Mildunknown

  • Requires clinical monitoring; unsupervised use is not appropriate

    unknown
06

Limitations & open questions

This is a prescription biologic, not a research compound, and it is the wrong category of product to source from a research-chemical supplier: potency of gonadotropin preparations is defined in international units against reference standards, and unverified material cannot be assumed to deliver a stated IU content. Gonadotropin therapy requires clinical monitoring. Risks in female use include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and multiple pregnancy.

07

Pharmacology

HMG is a purified preparation of gonadotropins with both FSH and LH activity, standardised in international units rather than by mass. It is a protein biologic, not a synthetic peptide, and is administered parenterally. Full pharmacokinetic characterisation is contained in the approved product labelling.

08

Frequently asked questions

Is HMG FDA-approved?

Yes. Menotropins are approved and marketed as Menopur under BLA021663, verified against the openFDA drug label database. This distinguishes it from most compounds catalogued here.

Why is HMG used with hCG for male fertility?

They cover different halves of the signal. hCG mimics LH and drives Leydig cell testosterone production, but LH-like stimulation alone often does not fully restore sperm production. The FSH activity in HMG supports Sertoli cell function and spermatogenesis.

Should HMG be bought as a research chemical?

No. It is an approved prescription biologic requiring clinical supervision, its potency is defined in international units against reference standards, and gonadotropin therapy carries real risks that need monitoring.