Leuprolide Stimulation Test

What is a leuprolide stimulation test?

Health care providers use the leuprolide stimulation test to find out if your child is in puberty. Puberty is a time of life when your child goes through physical and hormonal changes as they become an adult. It usually happens between ages 8–13 in girls and ages 9–14 in boys.

During this time, your child’s pituitary gland helps their reproductive organs mature (ovaries in females and testes in males) and produces sex hormones.

They go through physical changes such as:

Facial hair growth in males
Deepening of voice in males
Genital growth
Breasts and menses in females

If your child starts puberty before age 8 in girls or age 9 in boys, they may have a problem known as precocious puberty.

illustration showing endocrine system and pineal gland, hypothalamus, pituitary gland in the brain — The pituitary gland makes hormones that control other glands, such as testes (boys) and the ovaries (girls).

How to prepare for the stimulation test

Your child can continue to eat and drink normally before the test.
On the morning of the test, give your child all medicines they would normally take unless your child’s care team tells you not to give them.
Dress your child so they are comfortable, and bring activities that will keep them busy during the testing time, such as books, games, or tablets.

Testing will take place at the Endocrine Clinic, and will take about 3–4 hours. The test requires a return visit the following morning.

What to expect during the test

You can stay with your child during the test. Before the test, the care team will place an IV in your child’s arm.

The nurse will give your child an injection (shot) of the medicine, leuprolide, under the skin in the upper arm.
During the test, the care team will draw blood samples through the IV for analysis in the lab.

During the test, the nurse will watch your child’s vital signs. The nurse will remove the IV after the test.

Possible risks or side effects of the stimulation test

Your child should not have any side effects from the leuprolide.

After the stimulation test

Your child can return to normal activities after the test.

Key points about the leuprolide stimulation test

A leuprolide stimulation shows if your child is in puberty.
Your child can continue to eat and drink normally before the test.
The nurse injects a shot of the medicine, leuprolide, under the skin in the upper arm.
The nurse takes blood samples for testing from an IV in your child’s arm.
Your child can return to normal activities after the test.

For more information

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Reviewed: March 2023