What does GnRH analogue therapy treat?

These medicines can be used for endometriosis, including pain linked with endometrial tissue outside the womb. They may also be considered when an ovarian endometrioma contributes to pain or other symptoms. By lowering the signals that stimulate the ovaries, treatment can reduce the hormonal activity that supports endometriosis-related inflammation.

People sometimes call this approach medical menopause because it can produce temporary menopause-like effects. It is generally a time-limited part of a wider plan, rather than a procedure that removes endometriosis. Symptoms may return after treatment ends, so the next step depends on your symptoms, examination and treatment goals.

Ask which GnRH medicine is planned, how it will be given, and how long the course is expected to last. Discuss hot flushes, sleep changes, mood changes, vaginal dryness and changes in bleeding before starting. Your clinician may discuss add-back hormones or another strategy to reduce troublesome effects and protect bone health during a longer course.

Keep a simple record of pelvic pain, bleeding, bowel or bladder symptoms and any medicine effects. This helps your gynaecology team decide whether treatment is helping and whether the plan needs adjusting. Read more about [GnRH Analogue Therapy](/treatments/medical-gynaecology/gnrh-analogue-therapy/), [Endometriosis](/conditions/endometriosis/) and [GnRH Agonist](/materials/gnrh-agonist/).

Contact your clinician promptly for severe or worsening pelvic pain, heavy bleeding, a marked change in mood, or symptoms that make daily activities difficult. Seek urgent medical help for sudden severe abdominal pain, fainting, chest pain or difficulty breathing. These symptoms need assessment rather than being assumed to be a routine treatment effect.

Which condition or symptom is this treatment targeting? What benefits should we look for, and when will we review them? How will you monitor bone health and manage menopause-like effects? What should I do if pain returns after the course?