SUSTAINED GONADAL SUPPRESSION IN FERTILE WOMEN WITH THE LHRH AGONIST BUSERELIN

Abstract

Nine fertile women were treated with the LHRH agonist buserelin (7 women received 800 .mu.g, 2 women 1200 .mu.g intranasally for up to 24 wk). Both doses produced sustained suppression of ovarian function accompanied by hot flushes. In 5 women chemical castration was established within 1 to 5 wk, while in the other 4 volunteers transient peaks of serum estradiol occurred between the 6th and 19th wk. Thereafter low postmenopausal estradiol levels persisted. Chemical castration was confirmed by hormonal parameters and endometrial biopsies (inactive endometrium). After cessation of treatment normla cyclical function occurred immediately. This reversible chemical castration may be useful for new therapeutical approaches in sexual hormone dependent diseases (endometriosis, precocious puberty, metastatic breast cancer).