Protecting ovaries during lupus treatment with a hormone medication

Women with severe lupus often need a chemotherapy drug called cyclophosphamide to control their disease, but this medication can damage the ovaries and affect fertility. This study is testing whether leuprolide acetate, a hormone medication, can protect the ovaries when given together with cyclophosphamide. Researchers will compare ovarian health in women who received the protective medication with those who didn't.

Cyclophosphamide can harm ovarian function and cause infertility, which is a major concern for women of childbearing age with lupus. This medication may reduce that damage, but doctors don't yet have solid evidence that it works—this study aims to find out.