Leuprolide (Lupron)
Leuprolide is used to overstimulate the body’s own production of testosterone in men and estrogen in women, which causes that production to shut down temporarily.
How leuprolide works
Leuprolide works by suppressing pituitary hormones (FSH and LH), causing a drop in estrogen levels similar to menopause. In fertility treatments, this helps improve the effectiveness of gonadotropins by reducing interference from the pituitary. It’s also used to treat endometriosis and uterine fibroids by shrinking them through estrogen suppression.
Potential benefits of leuprolide for fertility
- Helps women with ovulation disorders and IVF cycles
- Improved egg quality and quantity
- Can be used to treat endometriosis which can impact fertility
- Helps control the timing of egg retrieval during IVF