Understanding ovarian suppression
Pausing ovarian estrogen production
The short version
Ovarian suppression temporarily stops or reduces estrogen production by the ovaries, using medication or sometimes surgery, and may be combined with tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor for some pre-menopausal patients.
Ovarian suppression temporarily stops or reduces the ovaries' production of estrogen, most often with regular injections, though it can also be done surgically. It may be added to hormone therapy for some pre-menopausal patients to further lower estrogen levels.
Ovarian suppression can bring on temporary or, in some cases, permanent menopause-like symptoms — this is worth discussing especially if future fertility matters to you.
Questions you may want to ask
Is ovarian suppression being recommended for me, and why?
What does this mean for my fertility?