Gonadorelin

Medical uses

Gonadorelin is used as a diagnostic agent to assess pituitary gland function. It is also used in the treatment of primary hypothalamic amenorrhea, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (e.g., Kallmann syndrome), delayed puberty, cryptorchidism, and infertility. Unlike other GnRH analogues, it is not used to suppress sex hormone production.

Available forms

Gonadorelin is available in a portable infusion pump that provides pulsatile subcutaneous administration of the drug. The usual dosage delivered is 5 to 20 μg of gonadorelin per pulse every 90 to 120 minutes. It is also available in solution form for intravenous or subcutaneous injection and as a nasal spray.

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

Gonadorelin is an agonist of the GnRH receptor and is used to induce the secretion of the gonadotropins follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone from the pituitary gland and to increase sex hormone production by the gonads.

Pharmacokinetics

Gonadorelin has a distribution half-life of 2 to 10 minutes and a very short terminal half-life of 10 to 40 minutes. It is metabolized by hydrolysis into smaller peptide components.

History

Gonadorelin was available for medical use, under the brand name Factrel, as early as 1978.

Society and culture

Generic names

Gonadorelin is the generic name of the drug and its , , and , while gonadorelina is its and gonadoréline is its . The diacetate salt is known as gonadorelin acetate and this is its , , and , while the hydrochloride salt is known as gonadorelin hydrochloride and this is its and .

Brand names

Free alcohol gonadorelin has been sold under the brand names Cryptocur, Cystoréline, Fertagyl, GnRH Serono, Gonadorelin, HRF, Kryptocur, LH-RH, Luforan, Pulstim, Relefact, Relisorm L, Stimu-LH, and Wyeth-Ayest HRF. Gonadorelin diacetate has been sold under the brand names Kryptocur, LHRH Ferring, Lutamin, Lutrelef, Lutrepulse, Relisorm L, and Relisorm. GnRH hydrochloride has been sold under the brand names Factrel, HRF, and Luforan. Additional brand names of gonadorelin and its salts include Acegon, Conceptyl, Cystorelin, Enagon, Equity Oestrus Control, Fertagyl Cattle, Fertiral, Gonabreed, Gonadorelin Interpharm, Gonasyn, Gonavet, Hypocrine, Improvest, LH RH Tanabe, LHRH Ferring, LH-RH Ferring, LH-RH Tanabe, Oestracton, OvaCyst, Ovsynch, OVsynch, Ovurelin, Ovarelin, and Relefact LH-RH. The majority of these brand names are for veterinary use.

Availability

Gonadorelin is available widely throughout the world for veterinary use, including in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, elsewhere throughout Europe, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan. However, gonadorelin is not available for clinical use in humans in the United States.

References

References

1. "Gonadorelin".
2. (14 November 2014). "The Dictionary of Drugs: Chemical Data: Chemical Data, Structures and Bibliographies". Springer.
3. (2000). "Index Nominum 2000: International Drug Directory". Taylor & Francis.
4. (6 December 2012). "Concise Dictionary of Pharmacological Agents: Properties and Synonyms". Springer Science & Business Media.
5. "Gonadorelin injectable Uses, Side Effects & Warnings".
6. (August 2014). "[Micropump infusion of gonadorelin in the treatment of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in patients with pituitary stalk interruption syndrome: cases analysis and literature review]". Beijing da Xue Xue Bao. Yi Xue Ban = Journal of Peking University. Health Sciences.
7. (17 July 2017). "The Art & Science of Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART)". JP Medical Ltd.
8. (2002). "Foye's Principles of Medicinal Chemistry". Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
9. (January 1996). "Goodman & Gilman's the Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics". McGraw-Hill, Health Professions Division.
10. (1978). "LH and FSH response to gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) in normospermic, oligospermic and azoospermic men". Archives of Andrology.
11. (27 August 2025). "Fertagyl for Animal Use".
12. (5 October 2025). "Gonadorelin".
13. (10 February 2025). "Factrel Advanced Patient Information".
14. (22 January 2024). "Gonavet for Animal Use (Canada)".
15. (2009). "Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference". Pharmaceutical Press.
16. "Drugs@FDA: FDA-Approved Drugs".