MEMORY COMPLAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF GONADOTROPIN-RELEASING-HORMONE AGONISTS - A PRELIMINARY-STUDY

Objectives: To study the effect of GnRH agonist (GnRH-a) treatment on memory and to assess the role of psychological factors. Design: A rand omized prospective study. Setting: An academic teaching hospital. Part icipants: Women with endometriosis and infertility or endometriosis al one.Main Outcome Measures: Memory Observation Questionnaire, Profile o f Mood States, Health Concerns scale, a weekly diary of adverse effect s. Results: Perceived memory functioning decreased during GnRH a admin istration and by the final week of treatment 44% of women reported mod erate to marked impairment in comparison to community norms. Prospecti ve memory was most affected and withdrawal of GnRH-a treatment resulte d in a return to normal memory functioning. impairment was not related to excessive health concerns or mood changes and was uncorrelated wit h other adverse effects. Conclusions: Memory disruption may be a more common side effect of GnRH-a treatment than currently is recognized. P roblems were temporary and more likely a result of rapid estrogen depl etion than a consequence of mood, somatic distress, or personality fac tors.