What is ovarian suppression and is it suitable for my daughter?

Ovarian suppression was developed based on the observation that girls diagnosed with cancer and treated before puberty (before her ovaries have produced mature eggs) are less prone to infertility than women who had already gone through puberty. Doctors proposed that keeping a woman’s ovaries from actively producing mature eggs (ovarian suppression) during cancer treatment may protect the ovaries from the toxic effects of treatment. Women are given hormone injections on a monthly basis to stop the ovaries from producing eggs.

Unfortunately, studies researching the effect of ovarian suppression on fertility after cancer treatment have shown mixed results, and in some people, no benefit at all.

The ovaries of girls who have not yet experienced puberty can be thought of as naturally “suppressed” until the onset of puberty. Thus, ovarian suppression is not currently an option for prepubertal girls.