sˈɪmɪlɚli tə dˈænɐzˌɑːl, dʒˈɛstɹɪnˌɑːn ˈækts æz ɐ wˈiːk ˌæntɪɡˈɑːnɐdˌɑːtɹəpˌɪn vˈaɪəɹ ˌæktɪvˈeɪʃən ʌvðə pˌiːˈɑːɹ ænd ˌeɪˈɑːɹ ɪnðə pɪtˈuːətˌɛɹi ɡlˈænd ænd səpɹˈɛsᵻz ðə mˈɪdsˈaɪkəl sˈɜːdʒ ʌv lˈuːteɪnˌaɪzɪŋ hˈoːɹmoʊn ˌɛlˈeɪtʃ ænd fˈɑːlɪkəlstˈɪmjʊlˌeɪɾɪŋ hˈoːɹmoʊn ˌɛfˌɛsˈeɪtʃ dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə mˈɛnstɹuːəl sˈaɪkəl wɪðˌaʊt ɐfˈɛktɪŋ bˈeɪsəl lˈɛvəlz ʌv ðiːz hˈoːɹmoʊnz.
Similarly to danazol, gestrinone acts as a weak antigonadotropin via activation of the PR and AR in the pituitary gland and suppresses the mid-cycle surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) during the menstrual cycle without affecting basal levels of these hormones.