Treatment of severe androgen excess due to ovarian hyperthecosis with a long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist.

A 31-year-old nulligravid patient presented with irregular menses, severe hirsutism, and infertility. Evaluation revealed marked increases of serum androstenedione and testosterone levels and a possible ovarian mass. At operation a cystic teratoma was removed from the left ovary and bilateral wedge resection revealed severe ovarian hyperthecosis. After operation only a transient decrease of androstenedione and testosterone was noted and the patient failed to ovulate or improve clinically. Subsequently a long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist was administered daily for 6 months, which reduced circulating delta 4-steroids and estrogens to levels approximating those of castrated women. Immediately after discontinuation of treatment, ovulation induction was successfully achieved with human menopausal gonadotropin. This report introduces a new therapeutic approach to the problem of severe ovarian hyperthecosis and may provide an opportunity for childbearing in these patients.