Encyclopedia

Gonadorelin

Gonadorelin is a synthetic decapeptide identical to gonadotropin-releasing hormone that, in pulsatile dosing, drives the pituitary to release LH and FSH. Its pharmacology is well established, but no FDA-approved finished product exists and it reaches patients through compounding. Educational only, not medical advice.

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Category	Sexual Health
Half-life	2-10 minutes
Regulatory status	No currently marketed FDA-approved gonadorelin finished product in the US; the original brand Factrel was discontinued, and there is no active approved NDA/ANDA.

Mechanism

A synthetic decapeptide identical to endogenous gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH/LHRH); when delivered in pulsatile fashion it stimulates pituitary release of LH and FSH, which drive gonadal steroidogenesis.

Half-life

Very short; plasma half-life of roughly 2-10 minutes.

Regulatory status

No currently marketed FDA-approved gonadorelin finished product in the US; the original brand Factrel was discontinued, and there is no active approved NDA/ANDA. It is widely available through compounding pharmacies (often used alongside testosterone therapy). Distinct from approved GnRH-agonist analogs such as leuprolide.

Safety

Reported effects include injection-site reactions, headache, flushing, nausea, and rare hypersensitivity. Continuous (non-pulsatile) dosing paradoxically suppresses the axis. Compounded product carries sourcing/quality considerations.

Evidence

Well-established human pharmacology and historical clinical/diagnostic use; current US availability is via compounding rather than an approved product.

Sources

Liu Z, et al. The Pulsatile Gonadorelin Pump Induces Earlier Spermatogenesis Than Cyclical Gonadotropin Therapy in Congenital Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism Men. Front Endocrinol. 2019;10:445. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6775549/
Coviello AD, et al. Low-dose HCG maintains intratesticular testosterone in normal men with testosterone-induced gonadotropin suppression. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005;90(5):2595-2602. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15713727/
Patel DP, et al. Indications for HCG use in management of infertility in hypogonadal men. Transl Androl Urol. 2018;7(Suppl 3):S348-S355. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6087849/
Hoffman AR, Crowley WF Jr. Induction of puberty in men by long-term pulsatile administration of low-dose GnRH. N Engl J Med. 1982;307(20):1237-1241. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6813733/
DrugBank. Gonadorelin: Uses, Interactions, Mechanism of Action. https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB00644

PepWise is an informational and educational tracking tool, not medical advice and not a medical device. Gonadorelin may be experimental, restricted, or prescription-only; many research peptides are not FDA-approved. Consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, changing, or stopping any protocol. Operated by STC Consulting, Inc.