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Therapies that block ovarian function (ovarian ablation)
Source: Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: December 2, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.
Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.
NCI patient treatment article for this disease Exact source article; not a clinically reviewed indication or current-standard recommendation.
Context: Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer / What types of hormone therapy are used for breast cancer?
Because the ovaries are the main source of estrogen before menopause, suppressing ovarian function can reduce or eliminate estrogen in premenopausal women. Blocking ovarian function is called ovarian ablation.
Ovarian ablation can be done surgically, in an operation to remove the ovaries (called oophorectomy), or by treatment with radiation. This type of ovarian ablation is permanent.
Alternatively, ovarian function can be suppressed temporarily with drugs called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists. These medicines, which are also known as luteinizing hormone–releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists, interfere with signals that stimulate the ovaries to produce estrogen.
Ovarian suppression drugs used to treat breast cancer include:
goserelin
Source links and citations
leuprolide
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Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice