Gonal F and Travel

[JoyfulStar]

Has any one ever had to manage taking their IVF medication whilst away from home for the weekend?

My husband and I have a weekend of house hunting in a different city in the UK planned. I am about to start stims but AF is late. Typical! 🙄

The problem I have is that I am on Gonal F which has to stay in the fridge until it is time to use it. Once used, I leave it in a cupboard but if AF does not arrive before the weekend, I will have to take an unused box with me.

Any tips on how to manage the whole refrigeration thing? Our drive will be 4 to 5 hours. I have considered investing in a cool box but the ice packs may not last.

How risky is it to even take an unopened box and keep it at room temperature until I need it? I know it is okay at below 21C for at least 28 days...

Any actual experience with this will help me immensely. Thanks in advance 🙂

[Millbanks]

Hi lovely, I just put mine in a cool bag with a couple of ice packs. Then stuck them in the fridge where I was staying... all was fine xx

[JoyfulStar in reply to Millbanks]

Hey hun 😊

Thank you! Just what I was thinking.

[FreshHope]

I use my son’s padded lunchbox with ice packs - not the gel ones but the blue rectangular ones. (Usually 4 ice packs, one to each side) just ensure ice packs don’t directly touch the pen on liquid/product to inject. I always keep mine in original boxes) For longer trips - overnight stays in hotels I don’t trust the fridge I take extra ice packs - ask staff to freeze them and ask as needed to keep going) I know I’m a control freak... but I’ve had my fair share of mishaps!

[JoyfulStar in reply to FreshHope]

Thank you for the hints and tips! I like the gel packs idea! 😊

[FreshHope in reply to JoyfulStar]

I find the gel ones aren’t as effective as the ones with a runny liquid inside like these below.

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[JoyfulStar in reply to FreshHope]

This is great.👍🏽Thanks for the photo 😀

[BBHH1]

If you can ice is good. I talked to the pharmacist about the follistim (which is similar to gonal F and he said it’s ok to leave it out for a few hours).

So maybe call the pharmacist to check if that is the same for Gonal F. If you use the ice make sure to have a good layer between the medication and the ice. Freezing it may be worse than warming it up. Best

[JoyfulStar]

Yes. This is so true. I will definitely bear this in mind 🙂

[Pittapatta]

I agree with the above ladies. When I have gone away I have rung the hotel and asked before hand if they would freeze my ice packs for me and that was fine. They just wouldn't take the actual medication but plain old ice packs they were happy to help. Goodluck

[JoyfulStar in reply to Pittapatta]

Great suggestion. It will be interesting to know whether the hotels will be willing to do this if their restaurants are closed.

[JRAP90]

Hello,A few years ago with the old Gonal F pens we went camping for 1 night. We drove a few hours to the site in the morning and then didn't use it until the evening. We did as you said and put the box in a freezer bag with ice blocks. It all worked out OK and the box and contents were still cold by the evening. Again, this was with the old gonal f pens and I know it has changed a bit recently (at my clinic anyway). I think you will most likely be ok if you get a good freezer bag/box and enough ice blocks but could speak to your clinic to see what their advice is?

Good luck with everything 😀

[JoyfulStar in reply to JRAP90]

Thank you! I think the cool box idea is the way to go. Knowing that so many other ladies have done exactly what I thought is reassuring.

[Loma1]

I’ve shared this answer a few months ago but thought it could be useful to you also ...

I had the misfortune of my fridge breaking whilst full of IVF drugs - so I can confidently confirm that Meriofert can be kept in the fridge or at room temp. Manufacturer confirmed that if stored at room temp, it has a shelf life of a month & if stored in the fridge it lasts longer. Since our cycles aren’t longer than a month, it is fine to keep at room temp. Hopefully it’s delivered cooled/ refrigerated though so you can track it’s shelf life.More importantly for your question, my clinic confirmed that the same was true for Gonal-F.

Therefore I’d have no issues with a cool bag over the weekend.

Good luck!

[JoyfulStar in reply to Loma1]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I did think they could be stored at room temperature but only once opened so this is definitely great to know. 👍🏽❤️

[Deni19]

Hello, I was told by the pharmacist that Gonal F can resist at room temperature 28 after opened. So I did. Good luck

[JoyfulStar in reply to Deni19]

Thank you! I knew that but as AF has gone on a leave of absence, I am not sure when she will arrive.

As I keep my Gonal F in the fridge until I use it, I was exploring what I can do to keep the same conditions until I am ready to use it. Hope that makes sense!

[Infragilis]

We travelled abroad with Gonal F and I put them in a cool box with proper ice packs. I also took additional ice packs which are activated when you break something inside them. I took these just in case the others started getting warm but in the end I didn't need to use the additional ones but it's always good to have a back up. I think we were travelling for over 6 hours. I usually keep Gonal refrigerated even when open as that's what the pharmacy told us to do. Hope this helps and good luck.