From the FDA Drug Label
Normal function is usually restored within 4 to 12 weeks after treatment is discontinued.
Lupron (leuprolide) does not induce permanent menopause. According to the drug label, normal pituitary-gonadal function is usually restored within 4 to 12 weeks after treatment is discontinued 1. This suggests that the effects of leuprolide on the reproductive system are reversible.
From the Research
Effects of Lupron on Menopause
- Lupron (leuprolide) is a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) used for various medical conditions, including ovarian stimulation and breast cancer treatment 2, 3.
- The use of Lupron can lead to ovarian ablation, defined as an estradiol concentration less than 40 pg/mL and a follicle-stimulating hormone concentration of 23 to 116 mU/mL 3.
- However, studies have shown that Lupron does not necessarily induce permanent menopause, as some women may experience resumption of menses or restoration of premenopausal hormone levels after treatment 4, 5.
- In fact, one study found that leuprolide acetate treatment simultaneously with cyclophosphamide-doxorubicin-based chemotherapy reduced the risk of developing premature menopause in premenopausal patients with breast cancer 5.
Variable Responses to Lupron
- Different women may respond differently to Lupron treatment, with some experiencing opposite responses to the addition of leuprolide acetate to human menopausal gonadotropin therapy 4.
- Variable dosing of leuprolide acetate may be necessary to achieve similar amounts of hormonal suppression, and small changes in dose may not significantly change hormone levels or predicted height 6.
- The exact mechanism for these variable responses to leuprolide acetate is not fully understood and may depend on individual factors such as age, chemotherapy doses, and hormone levels 3, 5.