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What does it do?

Leuprorelin reduces the amount of testosterone and oestrogen (male and female sex hormones) in your body. It is used to treat many conditions such as prostate cancer, endometriosis, uterine fibroids and breast cancer. It is also used in fertility treatments and transgender healthcare.

Before you start

  • Tell your doctor if you have heart problems, or osteoporosis (weak bones).
  • Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

How should you take it?

Leuprorelin is given as an injection into a muscle or under the skin by a health professional.

What if you forget a dose?

If you miss an appointment for your injection, contact your health professional as soon as possible.

Can you take other medicines?

Tell your pharmacist or doctor about all medicines or treatments that you may be taking, including vitamins, herbal products or recreational drugs.

What side effects might you notice?

Side EffectsRecommended action

Symptoms of allergy including: skin rash, itching, swelling, trouble breathing

Tell your doctor immediately

Low mood

Tell your doctor

Hot flushing, sweating

Less interest in sex, trouble getting or keeping an erection

Vaginal dryness, unexpected vaginal bleeding

Sore or enlarged breasts

Joint, muscle or bone aches and pains, swollen feet or legs

Headache, dizziness, tiredness or weakness

Irritation or pain at injection site

Tell your doctor if troublesome

If you notice any other effects, discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist.

Other information:

  • If you usually have periods, they will stop while you are using leuprorelin, but you might get some vaginal bleeding when you first start. Periods usually start again once you stop leuprorelin.
  • People being treated for cancer can sometimes get a ‘tumour flare’ when they first start leuprorelin. This can cause new or worsening symptoms such as bone pain. Tell your doctor if this happens to you.
  • Leuprorelin can weaken your bones. You may need tests to check for this.

This leaflet contains important, but not all, information about this medicine.

Prepared by the MyMedicines Committee at Christchurch Hospital, Te Whatu Ora - Waitaha, New Zealand. March 2023

For more general information about this sheet and its contents, see: What does a My Medicines sheet cover?

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About My Medicines

My Medicines Patient Information Leaflets (PILs) contain important, but not all, information about the medicines they describe.

For more information about the sheets, see: What does a My Medicines sheet cover?

My Medicines is developed by a team at Te Whatu Ora – Waitaha. Our team is made up of doctors, pharmacists, and a non-medical person to help us keep to plain language. We also discuss our information with specialist health professionals or groups when needed