Gonadorelin

A lab-made copy of GnRH, the brain hormone that triggers LH and FSH. In medicine it's given in pulses by a small pump or as a one-time test.

Evidence: Limited human research
Half-life: Minutes
Sources: 2 cited

Is gonadorelin FDA-approved?

No branded product is currently marketed in the US. It's available through compounding pharmacies, and compounded versions aren't FDA-approved.

Overview

Gonadorelin is identical to natural GnRH. The pituitary only responds properly when GnRH arrives in pulses about every 90 minutes; steady exposure shuts the system down. That's why medical treatment uses a small pump that delivers pulses, which can restore fertility in people whose hypothalamus doesn't make GnRH.

How it works

It binds GnRH receptors in the pituitary. Pulses cause LH and FSH release; continuous exposure does the opposite and suppresses them.

How long does gonadorelin stay in the body?

A few minutes in the blood.

What it's studied for

Pulsatile pump therapy for hypothalamic hypogonadism
Pituitary function testing

Sources

The studies and prescribing labels this page is written from.