Androgen deprivation therapy remains one of the most effective palliative treatments for patients with advanced prostate cancer or biochemical recurrence after curative therapies. But it is associated with multiple side effects, including hot flushes, decreased physical strength, fatigue, loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, cognitive dysfunction, depression, osteoporosis, anemia, changes in body composition, gynecomastia and insulin resistance. Different hormonal treatment regimens have begun to use because of these serious side effects.

Intermittent androgen deprivation therapy has been proposed to improve quality of life by reducing side effects and delay development of castration resistance. Intermittent androgen deprivation therapy provides oncologic results similar to those of continuous androgen deprivation therapy, but with better tolerability. It is a reasonable and safety treatment modality in patients with advanced prostate cancer.

The objectives of this review is to discuss the advantages of intermittent androgen deprivation therapy and to compare the effect of intermittent and continous androgen deprivation therapies on survival and quality of life.

Keywords: prostate cancer, intermittent androgen deprivation therapy, survival, side effects, quality of life