Understanding Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Analogues

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What is a gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH)?

Everyone makes gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). When you’re an adolescent starting puberty, increasing levels of this hormone stimulate the production of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). FSH and LH are gonadotropins (goh-NA-doh-TROH-pinz). Gonadotropins are essential to your reproductive health.

What is a GnRH analogue?

A GnRH analogue is a medication which suppresses the release of oestrogen from the ovaries and causes a temporary and reversible ‘menopause'. How does it work? GnRH analogues are similar to a hormone already produced in humans called Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone (GnRH).

What does GnRH stand for?

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone ( GnRH) is a releasing hormone responsible for the release of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) from the anterior pituitary. GnRH is a tropic peptide hormone synthesized and released from GnRH neurons within the hypothalamus. The peptide belongs to gonadotropin-releasing hormone family.

What does GnRH do in the endocrine system?

The pituitary gland in your endocrine system uses gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) to stimulate the production of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. These gonadotropins (hormones) make the sex hormones testosterone, estrogen and progesterone. GnRH is vital to your sexual maturity, sex drive and fertility.

What are gonadotropin releasing hormone analogues (GnRH)?

We have written this leaflet to provide you with information about your treatment using gonadotropin releasing hormone analogues (GnRH). What are GnRH analogues? GnRH analogues are synthetic hormones used to reduce the amount of oestrogen circulating in the body. How do GnRH analogues work? Your body produces GnRH naturally.

How do GnRH analogues affect estrogen and progesterone levels?

By affecting the release of LH and FSH, GNRH analogues reduce the production of estrogen and progesterone hormones from your ovaries. Estrogen and progesterone are responsible for causing periods, so reducing their levels in your body should stop periods. When the GNRH analogue is first given, there is an initial increase in estrogen hormone.

What are GnRH agonists and antagonists?

Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Analogues The gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists and antagonists are short peptide analogues of GnRH that cause a profound inhibition of estrogen and androgen synthesis and are used predominantly as androgen deprivation therapy of advanced prostate cancer.

What Is Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone (GnRH) Analogues

1. https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/documents/documents/patient-information-leaflets-a-z/gnrh-analogues/
2. https://mft.nhs.uk/app/uploads/sites/4/2019/11/19-71-GnRH-analogue-injections-Nov-19.pdf
3. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22525-gonadotropin-releasing-hormone
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonadotropin-releasing_hormone
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4229791/
6. https://www.sfh-tr.nhs.uk/media/1651/pil202201-04-grha-gonadotrophin-releasing-hormone.pdf
7. https://publicdocuments.sth.nhs.uk/pil1449.pdf
8. https://www.therotherhamft.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/patient-information/GnRH-analogue-injections