Metrodin was once one of the most important fertility drugs on the market. It was first made — believe it or not — from the urine retrieved from postmenopausal nuns. Since they had gone through menopause, these women had high levels of the hormones FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) circulating in their bloodstream, which were relatively easy to extract, sterilize and then administer to women who needed more of these hormones to boost egg production. Eventually drug makers started to manufacture an artificial version of the hormone rather than relying on a purified human form. The drug fell out of favor as fertility experts began tinkering around with the ratio of FSH to LH, trying to better mimic the levels of these hormones in our own bodies (there’s normally more FSH circulating in the blood than LH). Today it’s not used in the US at all, although you may still find it overseas.
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