HMG, or human menopausal gonadotropin (generic name menotropins), is not a single peptide but a biologic mixture purified from the urine of postmenopausal women. It carries both follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) activity, conventionally standardized at a 1:1 ratio by International Unit.1 Compositional analyses of a purified preparation reported that gonadotrophins make up at most about 70% of the protein content, with FSH, LH and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) all detectable and several non-gonadotrophin urinary proteins present as impurities.2 Because it is urine-derived and heterogeneous, HMG has no defined small-molecule formula or molar mass. As a category, menotropins are an established prescription medicine in assisted reproduction, but Peptigo supplies this material strictly for laboratory research use only; it is not offered or approved for any human or veterinary use.
Sequence & identity
PubChem lists menotropins as a multi-component biologic substance rather than a single defined compound; no validated molecular formula, molar mass or InChIKey is established for the mixture.3 FSH and LH are heterodimeric glycoproteins sharing a common alpha subunit with distinct beta subunits.
Mechanisms studied
FSH and LH are gonadotropic glycoprotein hormones that act on receptors in the gonads. In published reproductive pharmacology, FSH activity drives ovarian follicular growth and maturation, while LH activity supports follicular steroidogenesis; FDA labeling for a menotropins product states that the preparation produces ovarian follicular growth and maturation, with ovulation requiring subsequent hCG administration.1 In the corresponding male physiology, FSH supports spermatogenesis and LH stimulates testicular testosterone production, though these are descriptions of endogenous gonadotropin biology rather than approved indications for this material.
Dosing in the research literature
The figures below summarise regimens as reported in published research — they are not recommendations or directions for use.
| Source / model | Regimen reported | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FDA prescribing information, menotropins for injection (Menopur) | Each vial standardized to 75 IU FSH activity and 75 IU LH activity; in the labeled assisted-reproduction protocol the maximum reported daily amount did not exceed 450 IU and therapy did not exceed 20 days | Reported in a regulated clinical-medicine context only. Not a research-use protocol and not a usage instruction; cited to document how the agent has been standardized and studied.1 |
| Pharmacokinetic data, FDA label | FSH elimination half-life of 11-13 hours reported after multiple-dose subcutaneous or intramuscular administration | Half-life figure as reported in the product label.1 |
Effects observed in research
In the published human literature within reproductive medicine, menotropins have been reported to stimulate development of multiple ovarian follicles as part of controlled ovarian stimulation.1 These observations come from a clinical-treatment setting and are not generalizable claims about the research material supplied here. No effects are claimed for any unapproved use.
Strength of evidence
Evidence grade A: menotropins have decades of human clinical data in reproductive medicine and an FDA-approved product (initial U.S. approval 1975).1 A separate consideration is product heterogeneity: one compositional study reported that a purified urinary preparation contained at most around 70% gonadotrophins, that immunoactivity attributable to hCG exceeded that of LH, and that leukocyte elastase inhibitor, protein C inhibitor and zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein were present as impurities.2 The strong clinical grade applies to regulated pharmaceutical use, not to any research-use-only material.
Reconstitution & storage
Reconstitute with bacteriostatic water for laboratory handling. Store lyophilised material frozen and reconstituted material refrigerated. Use Peptigo’s reconstitution calculator and storage cheat sheet for working figures.
References
- MENOPUR (menotropins for injection) Highlights of Prescribing Information, Ferring Pharmaceuticals; Initial U.S. Approval 1975. U.S. FDA / DailyMed label. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=22c8db95-c3db-1770-8086-31356fbabe35
- van de Weijer BHM, Mulders JWM, Bos ES, Verhaert PDEM, van den Hooven HW. Compositional analyses of a human menopausal gonadotrophin preparation extracted from urine (menotropin). Identification of some of its major impurities. Reproductive BioMedicine Online. 2003;7(5):547-557. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14680547/
- PubChem, Menotropins (substance/mixture record), National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Menotropins