Article Summary
The article examines compounded gonadorelin, a synthetic form of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) crucial for adult fertility, after FDA-approved injectable gonadorelin was discontinued. Compounding pharmacies now provide gonadorelin medications to address various men's health concerns, especially in testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) protocols. With regulatory changes affecting the availability of other medications like human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), gonadorelin emerges as a valuable alternative, often prescribed alongside testosterone and other related medications like oxandrolone and clomiphene citrate for comprehensive men's health regimens.Compounded Gonadorelin
Gonadorelin is a synthesized version of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which is produced by the hypothalamus and causes the pituitary gland to release follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Among other functions, FSH and LH contribute to fertility in adults.[1][2]
Injectable gonadorelin had been approved for human use by the FDA and marketed under the brand names Factrel® and LutrePulse™ but has since been discontinued. However, compounding pharmacies are still able to create gonadorelin medications to help healthcare providers meet their patients’ needs.
The FDA-approved gonadorelin products were indicated for testing the functionality of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland as well as fertility support in women.[1][2] However, some providers now prescribe compounded gonadorelin for various men’s health applications, often as part of a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) protocol or as part of a broader men’s health regimen.
This partially may be due to a regulatory change that led to the discontinuation of compounded human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) medications, which were also sometimes prescribed alongside testosterone and as part of comprehensive men’s health regimens. This left many providers looking for alternatives. Though they have not been compared in published literature extensively, a small, nonrandomized, open-label study assessed both gonadorelin and HCG. Even though the two medications yielded disparate results, the researchers determined that “the differences between the two therapies were not significant.”[3]
Medications Sometimes Prescribed with Gonadorelin
Because of the significant part that gonadorelin plays in the human endocrine system and its overall potential as part of men’s health protocols, providers may find it clinically appropriate to prescribe it not just with testosterone but also with other related medications. Some of those related medications are listed below.
- Oxandrolone
- Stanozolol
- DHEA
- 7-keto DHEA
- Anastrozole
- Clomiphene citrate
- Tamoxifen citrate
Empower Pharmacy partners with a wide range of healthcare practices and offers options for all of the medications listed above as well as gonadorelin injections and an extensive line of compounded testosterone products — including testosterone ester combinations. Healthcare providers who already work with Empower can talk to their clinic liaison if they are interested in gonadorelin or related products. Providers who are interested in partnering with Empower can contact us about these products and others we can offer their practices and their patients.
- Mayo Clinic [Internet]. [place unknown]: IBM Watson Health; c 1998-2022. Gonadorelin (intravenous route, injection route); [updated 2022 Aug 1; cited 2022 Sep 7]. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/gonadorelin-intravenous-route-injection-route/description/drg-20067426
- DrugBank Online [Internet]. [place unknown]: DrugBank Online. Gonadorelin; 2005 Jun 13 [updated 2022 Sep 6; cited 2022 Sep 7]. Available from: https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB00644
- Zhang L, Cai K, Wang Y, Ji W, Cheng Z, Chen G, Liao Z. The pulsatile gonadorelin pump induces earlier spermatogenesis than cyclical gonadotropin therapy in congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism men. Am J Mens Health [Internet]. 2019 Jan-Feb [cited 2022 Sep 7];13(1): Article 1557988318818280 [9 p.]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6775549/. doi: 10.1177/1557988318818280
