Protection of ovarian function and fertility using a combination of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist and GnRH antagonist during cancer treatment in young females

Abstract

Cytotoxic treatment can cause early loss of ovarian function associated with loss of fertility in younger women. To investigate if co-treatment with a combination of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist and GnRH antagonist may be useful in preserving ovarian function and fertility in younger women during chemotherapy, we prospectively observed nine young patients receiving different chemotherapies for various malignant diseases and other severe medical conditions who also received simultaneous GnRH agonist and GnRH antagonist. Mean age of the patients was 26.56 ± 8.78 years, all were ≤35 years old. Eight (88.9%) patients regained normal basal hormonal profile within 3 – 6 months after the completion of chemotherapy. Median level of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and estradiol was 6.3 ± 8.8 U/l, 8.2 ± 25.4 U/l and 118.0 ± 130.8 pg/ml, respectively. Eight (88.9%) patients resumed spontaneous menses within 3 – 11 months following discontinuation of chemotherapy. Two (22.2%) patients conceived: one spontaneously, and the second following induction of ovulation by injection of gonadotropins. It seems that combined usage of GnRH agonist and GnRH antagonist during chemotherapy may be useful in preserving ovarian function and fertility in a group of young females receiving chemotherapy treatment.

Keywords:

• Chemotherapy
• ovarian protection
• young patients