Ovarian suppression

Ovarian suppression involves stopping the ovaries from producing the hormone oestrogen.

This can be done using medication, or by surgery (oophorectomy) to remove the ovaries. This causes a permanent menopause.

Ovarian suppression is used as part of treatment for women who have oestrogen-receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer and who are pre-menopausal.

Before menopause, oestrogen is mainly produced by the ovaries. If the ovaries are stopped from working, there is less oestrogen in the body to help breast cancer to grow. This is ovarian suppression.

Note: Small amounts of oestrogen will still be produced by fat cells.

Ovarian suppression prevents the ovaries from producing oestrogen, which stops menstrual periods and lowers hormone levels in the body.

If you are premenopausal, you’ve had chemotherapy and your breast cancer is oestrogen-receptor (ER+) positive, your specialist team may advise having ovarian suppression as part of your treatment for breast cancer.

Other factors will also be considered by your specialist team such as the stage, size, and grade of your breast cancer.

Ovarian suppression can help to reduce the risk of cancer coming back as a local recurrence, locally advanced breast cancer or a distant recurrence.

Goserelin (also called Zoladex) is a type of hormone therapy (HT) used as part of treatment for breast cancer in women who have not yet been through menopause

It can also be used to try to preserve fertility during chemotherapy.

Goserelin (also called Zoladex) is a hormone therapy (HT) drug. It is used to treat oestrogen receptor (ER+) positive breast cancer

Goserelin stops the ovaries from producing the hormone oestrogen, this lowers oestrogen levels in the body causing a temporary menopause.

It’s important to have your goserelin injections on time to make sure your ovaries remain suppressed. This will make goserelin as effective as possible.

Goserelin (also called Zoladex) is a type of hormone therapy (HT) used as part of treatment for breast cancer in women who have not yet been through menopause

It can also be used to try to preserve fertility during chemotherapy.

Goserelin (also called Zoladex) is a hormone therapy (HT) drug. It is used to treat oestrogen receptor (ER+) positive breast cancer

Goserelin stops the ovaries from producing the hormone oestrogen, this lowers oestrogen levels in the body causing a temporary menopause.

It’s important to have your goserelin injections on time to make sure your ovaries remain suppressed. This will make goserelin as effective as possible.

Leuprorelin (also called Lucrin) is a type of hormone therapy used as part of treatment for breast cancer in women who have not yet been through menopause.

It can also be used to try to preserve fertility during chemotherapy.

Leuprorelin stops / ‘switches off’ the ovaries from producing the hormone oestrogen in the body, this is known as ovarian suppression causing a temporary menopause.

Leuprorelin is given as an injection. It can be either:

In the muscle (intramuscular) in your leg or buttocks

Under your skin (subcutaneously) into fatty tissue in your upper arm, thigh or abdomen (tummy).

The injection site should be varied regularly.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, leuprorelin comes in 2 strengths:

3.75mg injection given monthly OR 11.25mg injection given three-monthly.

Your specialist team will choose the best dose for you.

Remember to book your next appointment in plenty of time so that you receive the leuprorelin injection when it’s due. If you miss an appointment for your injection, contact your specialist team or GP as soon as possible.

It’s important to have your leuprorelin injections on time to make sure your ovaries remain suppressed. This will make leuprorelin as effective as possible.