The Prostap injection contains the active ingredient leuprorelin acetate, a type of gonadorelin (LHRH) analogue. Prostap is used for many different reasons, including prostate cancer, endometriosis, and the thinning in the lining of the uterus (endometrium) before surgery (endometrial ablation or resection).
How Prostap Works
Prostap affects the pituitary gland, a region of the brain that produces and stores different hormones, including the sex hormones luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). For men, LH causes the testicles to produce testosterone, while the combination of FSH and testosterone cause the production of sperm. In women, LH and FSH make the estrogen in the ovaries that control the menstrual cycle. The hormones LH and FSH are controlled by another hormone, called gonaderline (LHRH), which acts on LHRH receptors in the pituitary gland causing their eventual release and the subsequent production of testosterone in men and estrogen in women.
The ingredient in Prostrap, leuprorelin acetate, is a synthetic form of the gonaderlin that controls these processes, in the same way that natural gonadorelin acts on LHRH receptors.
Leuprorelin is used in IVF because it increases the amount of FSH and LH produced in the pituitary gland, thus increasing a woman’s estrogen production. If given enough, the leuprorelin desensitizes the pituitary gland, which in turn lowers the production of the hormones. The reduction of sex hormones can be very useful in treating disorders that are linked to levels of estrogen, such as endometriosis and uterine fibroids.
The effect of leuprorelin can stop the growth of tissue in womb and uterus lining attributed to endometriosis. The drug can also be used to thin the lining of the womb before endometrial surgery, and decrease estrogen levels to decrease the size of fibroids prior to surgery as well.
How to Use Prostap
Prostap is a long-acting injection that is administered subcutaneously (under the skin) or intramuscularly (into a muscles). It is important that the patient switch the injection site to prevent redness and discomfort due to soreness.
For Endometriosis, an injection of Prostrap is administered once a month for six months, starting in the first five days of the patient’s menstrual cycle (day one being the first day of your period). In order to thin the womb lining, Prostap is administered days three to five of the woman’s menstrual cycle, and five to six weeks before the surgery. Fibroids are treated with an injection of the drug every month, for generally three to four months.
