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An enduring commitment to
reproductive medicine

EMD Serono has been a pioneer and leader in reproductive medicine for over a century. The company launched the first hMG (which is no longer on the market), the first recombinant gonadotropin, and the first pre-filled pen device for use in fertility.1,2

Patient stress: unmet needs in fertility care 

The stress factor

One area where unmet needs remain is the patient experience. Fertility issues are inherently stressful for many reasons, including the potential need for invasive procedures, physical discomfort, financial burdens, and uncertainty about outcomes.3 Psychological stress can potentially affect treatment results.4

Treatment-related fears

Treatment logistics also may contribute to patients’ psychological stress. Fertility clinics can help mitigate this tension through education and counseling. However, even with this support, many patients experience anxiety, worry, or fear about medication preparation and administration. This can contribute to treatment fatigue.5-7

Specific patient concerns relate to needle-handling, medication mixing, and fear of doing something wrong.5 This concern is not unfounded. In one study, even when healthcare professionals were confident that patients understood their treatment instructions, roughly 1 in 4 patients either did not comply with the instructions or had doubts about details of the self-injection.7 Additionally, research indicates that more complex self-administration protocols can lead to dosing errors in the majority of patients.8

Looking to the future

EMD Serono continues to invest in research and development to advance the field of fertility care and to improve the patient experience. Stay connected to the future of fertility.

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1. Lunenfeld B et al. Fertil Steril. 2018;110:255–263. 2. US Food and Drug Administration. FDA Approval Letter. 2024. 3. Grammenou M et al. Healthcare. 2026;14:375 (1-31).
4. Özöztürk S et al. Women Stud Int Forum. 2023:100:102821. 5. Steinke DT et al. Exp Opin Drug Deliv. 2020;17(11):1647-1654. 6. Gameiro S et al. Hum Reprod Update. 2012;18(6):652-669. 7. Barriere P et al. Reprod Biomed Soc Online. 2019;9:37-47. 8. Saunders H et al. Exp Opin Drug Deliv. 2021;18(5):643-654.

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