gonadotropin-releasing hormone

noun

go·​nad·​o·​tro·​pin-re·​leas·​ing hormone gō-ˌna-də-ˈtrō-pən-ri-ˈlē-siŋ- 

: a hormone secreted by the hypothalamus that stimulates the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland to release gonadotropins (such as luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone)

—abbreviation GnRH

called also luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone

Examples of gonadotropin-releasing hormone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The most common puberty blockers, gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs, inhibit the hormone that kick-starts puberty in both sexes. —Alexa Lee, STAT, 7 Mar. 2024

Doctors inject a compound or use an implant that mimics the actions of a puberty-stimulating hormone that is released in the brain known as gonadotropin-releasing hormone. —Tara John, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024

Isolating and analyzing gonadotropin-releasing hormone, for instance, sped along scientists’ understanding of the hormonal control of the menstrual cycle, and ultimately the development of birth control pills and of hormonal therapies for prostate cancer. —Eryn Brown, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024

One approach that has been tested in cats targets gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), the master switch of the reproductive system. —Jessica P. Hekman, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2015

Hormonal medications such as progestins (sometimes in the form of an IUD) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists may lessen symptoms of polyps and shrink uterine fibroids. —Women's Health, 23 Aug. 2023

One option is medication from a class of drugs called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, which block your body's natural production of estrogen and progesterone, which can stem fibroid growth. —Macaela MacKenzie, Glamour, 18 July 2023

For those on the path to surgery, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists may be a better option. —Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 20 June 2023

The drug histrelin is commonly used to treat hormone-sensitive prostate cancers and benign uterine fibroids.4 Histrelin is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist that blocks the release of a hormone called GnRH that directs the production of testosterone. —Elizabeth Boskey, Verywell Health, 5 June 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

gonadotropin-releasing hormone

noun

gonadotropin-re·​leas·​ing hormone -ri-ˈlēs-iŋ- 

: a decapeptide hormone produced by the hypothalamus that stimulates the adenohypophysis to release gonadotropins (as luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone)

—abbreviation GnRH

called also luteinizing hormone-releasing factor, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone