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Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonists

Meaning

Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonists, or GnRH agonists, are synthetic pharmaceutical compounds designed to mimic the action of the naturally occurring hypothalamic hormone, GnRH. These agents initially cause a transient surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion, but with continuous, non-pulsatile administration, they paradoxically lead to the desensitization and downregulation of pituitary GnRH receptors. This desensitization results in a profound suppression of gonadal sex hormone production, achieving a state of chemical castration.