Anti-estrogens   Aromatase inhibitors > Ovarian suppression

OVARIAN SUPPRESSION

Before menopause, women produce most of their estrogen in the ovaries. For some premenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, it is beneficial to stop ovarian estrogen production. With less estrogen in the body overall, there is less estrogen available to bind to the breast cancer cell estrogen receptors and promote cell growth, resulting in slower growth for the cancer.

Ovarian suppression, or ovarian ablation, is treatment to stop the ovaries from producing estrogen. It can be accomplished through surgery to remove the ovaries (called an oophorectomy), radiation treatment to the ovaries, or medication (called luteinizing hormone–releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists). Surgery and radiation are permanent methods and bearing children will not be possible after these treatments. The effects of medication may be reversible in some cases. If fertility is a concern for you, discuss these options with your doctor.