Gonadorelin

Overall Health Benefits of Gonadorelin

• Treats testicular atrophy [1-2]
• Improves fertility by increasing testosterone production [3-23]
• Increases sexual desire [24-25]
• Prevents cancer [26-35]
• Increases muscle mass [36-39]
• Promotes healthier bones [40-43]
• Improves mood [44-45]
• Treats amenorrhea [46-47]

What is Gonadorelin?

Gonadorelin, also known as Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), is produced in the brain region called hypothalamus. This hormone stimulates the synthesis and release of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) from the anterior pituitary gland. Gonadorelin is mainly used for treating infertility, delayed puberty, and amenorrhea (absence of menstruation).

How Gonadorelin Works

Gonadorelin stimulates the pituitary gland to increase the secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).  In women, gonadorelin is used to stimulate the release of an egg from the ovary. This in turn results in regular ovulation and higher chances of pregnancy. In men, gonadorelin is used to stimulate spermatogenesis or sperm production. It also boosts the production of testosterone by the testes. Gonadorelin is used in conjunction with testosterone to minimize testicular atrophy (shrinking of the testicles).

Chemical Structure of Gonadorelin

Research on Gonadorelin

A. Treats Testicular Atrophy

There are also studies supporting the beneficial effects of gonadorelin on testicular atrophy, a condition characterized by shrinking of the testicles:

1. 1. In infants with undescended testes, gonadorelin therapy through nasal spray significantly increased the testicular volume after 5 years. [1]
   2. In adolescents who had left varicocelectomy (removal of enlarged veins in the scrotum), gonadorelin treatment increased testicular volume. [2]

B. Improves Fertility by Increasing Testosterone Production

A number of convincing studies suggest that gonadorelin can help improve fertility in both men and women:

1. In men with steroid-induced azoospermia (absence of sperm), gonadorelin therapy resulted in increased sperm production. [3]
2. In boys and girls with delayed puberty, long-term administration with gonadorelin improved reproductive health. [4]
3. In men with testosterone deficiency, gonadorelin was found to be helpful in restoring sperm production. [5]
4. In male goats, a single dose of gonadorelin exhibited beneficial effects on testicular blood flow which in turn improved sperm production. [6]
5. In men testosterone deficiency, long-term gonadorelin therapy was successful in stimulating sexual maturation. [7]
6. In goats, gonadorelin administration promoted ovulation and resulted in a higher number of embryos. [8]
7. In dairy cattles, gonadorelin administration after insemination resulted in increased pregnancy rate. [9]
8. In cows with low sexual cycles, gonadorelin injections were found to be effective in increasing the number of the subjects’ pregnancies. [10]
9. In women, pulsatile administration of gonadorelin was successful in improving the pregnancy rate of the subjects with lesser risks than the conventional gonadotropin treatment. [11]
10. In breeder cows, conception rates became significantly high after gonadorelin injection. [12]
11. A study showed that gonadorelin treatment was effective in restoring sperm production in infertile men. [13]
12. In infertile men, gonadorelin treatment increased testosterone and sperm production. [14-17]
13.  In patients with Kallman’s syndrome (delayed or absent puberty) who failed traditional treatment, gonadorelin treatment restored sperm production. [18]
14. In adolescent boys, low-dose administration of gonadorelin induced testicular growth and sperm production. [19]
15. A study showed that gonadorelin therapy could be used to trigger testosterone and sperm production in men with sex hormone deficiency. [20-22]
16. In cows, gonadorelin treatment resulted in a higher ovulatory period rate. [23]

C. Increases Sexual Desire

Gonadorelin has also been found to increase sexual desire:

1. In camel bulls, gonadorelin administration resulted in improved sperm concentration and libido. [24]
2. In female monkeys, gonadorelin injection resulted in improved sexual behavior. [25]

D. Prevents Cancer

Evidence suggests that gonadorelin has potent anti-cancer properties:

1. In mice, gonadorelin injection resulted in the suppression of intestinal and colonic tumor growth. [26]
2. In pre-menopausal women with early and advanced breast cancer, gonadorelin therapy prevented the growth of breast cancer cells. [27]
3. A study suggested that gonadorelin can help suppress the growth of prostate cancer. [28]
4. A study showed that gonadorelin may play an important role in modulating several malignant human tumors. [29]
5. Research found that gonadorelin is safe and cost-effective and that using it for 15 years could reduce the risk of breast cancer by 70%. [30]
6. Gonadorelin has been found to reduce the growth of estrogen-sensitive cancer and boost the efficacy of receptor blocking medications. [31]
7. In postmenopausal women with high levels of estrogen, long-term GnRH treatment was associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer. [32]
8. In men with aggressive prostate cancer, gonadorelin administration has been found to produce similar efficacy to surgical removal of the testicles in preventing the spread of cancer. [33]
9. Research suggests that gonadorelin may help treat castration-resistant prostate cancer. [34]
10. When used effectively and combined with early detection, the addition of gonadorelin to chemotherapeutic drugs may help cure 99% of all prostate cancer. [35]

E. Increases Muscle Mass

Studies suggest that gonadorelin is essential for muscle health:

1. In healthy young men, administration of gonadorelin significantly improved muscle mass and strength. [36]
2. In healthy older men, monthly treatment with gonadorelin increased muscle mass and leg strength. [37]
3. A study showed that gonadorelin treatment among male subjects resulted in increased muscle mass strength. [38]
4. In healthy older men, the increase in testosterone caused by gonadorelin administration induced muscle improvements. [39]

F. Promotes Healthier Bones

Gonadorelin is also important for maintaining a healthy skeletal frame according to studies:

1. In young men with sex hormone deficiency, gonadorelin treatment resulted in increased bone mineral density. [40]
2. In patients with bone disorders caused by ovarian cysts, gonadorelin treatment increased bone mineral density. [41]
3. In women with endometriosis, a condition where the womb tissue starts to grow in other places, gonadorelin treatment combined with physical training resulted in bone formation. [42]
4. A study found that surgically-castrated men with prostate cancer who received gonadorelin treatment had lower rate of bone loss compared to the untreated group. [43]

G. Improves Mood

Studies suggest that gonadorelin can help improve mood through its antidepressant effects:

1. In women with severe premenstrual syndrome, daily intranasal administration of low-dose gonadorelin greatly reduced depression and irritability. [44]
2. In men with central hypogonadism, gonadorelin administration produced positive effects on mood by treating sexual dysfunction. [45]

H. Treats Amenorrhea

Gonadorelin can also help restore normal menstrual cycle according to clinical studies:

1. In women with amenorrhea, administration of gonadorelin produced menstruation without any side effects. [46]
2. In women with primary and secondary amenorrhea, gonadorelin treatment was extremely effective in inducing ovulation and menstruation. [47]

Associated Side Effects of Gonadorelin

Gonadorelin side effects are very uncommon. There have been some side effects associated with the use of this drug wherein the patient had one of the issues listed below at some point while being on gonadorelin. However, these side effects weren’t confirmed to be associated with the treatment and could have been a coincidence and not related to the use of gonadorelin. Despite this, it was listed as a side effect associated with gonadorelin even though these associated side effects are very uncommon.

Side effects associated with gonadorelin may include the following:

• Abdominal discomfort
• Dizziness
• Flushing
• Headache
• Lightheadedness
• Nausea
• Skin rash

References

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