Long-term GnRH agonist treatment for female central precocious puberty does not impair reproductive function

Abstract

Depot gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist (GnRHa) therapy is the treatment of choice for patients with central precocious puberty (CPP). It is still unclear whether long-term exposure to GnRHa is associated with impaired reproductive function in adulthood. The present study was performed on 46 women, former CPP patients, 12.5 ± 3.7 years after the discontinuation of treatment with depot GnRHa. In a structured interview, we assessed general health status, clinical signs possibly associated with hyperandrogenism, menstrual cycle, gynaecological diseases and reproductive function. It appears that long-term treatment with depot GnRHa is safe and does not impair reproductive function. The risk of former CPP patients to develop hirsutism and/or polycystic ovary syndrome does not seem to be increased compared to the normal population but this issue needs to be addressed in further long-term follow-up studies.