( S ) Few studies of medical therapies for endometriosis report outcomes that are relevant to patients , and many women gain only limited or intermittent benefit from treatment
OBJECTIVE To assess patient response rates to medical therapies used to treat endometriosis-associated pain .
Treatment of symptomatic rectovaginal endometriosis with an estrogen-progestogen combination versus low-dose norethindrone acetate.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy , safety , and tolerability of an estrogen-progestogen combination versus low-dose norethindrone acetate in the treatment of persistent pain after surgery for symptomatic rectovaginal endometriosis . DESIGN R and omized controlled trial . SETTING Academic center . PATIENT(S ) Ninety women with recurrent moderate or severe pelvic pain after unsuccessful conservative surgery for symptomatic rectovaginal endometriosis . INTERVENTION(S ) Twelve-month , continuous treatment with oral ethinyl E2 , 0.01 mg , plus cyproterone acetate , 3 mg/day , or norethindrone acetate , 2.5 mg/day . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S ) Degree of satisfaction with therapy . RESULT ( S ) Seven women in the ethinyl E2 plus cyproterone acetate arm and five in the norethindrone acetate arm withdrew because of side effects ( n=5 ) , treatment inefficacy ( n=6 ) , or loss to follow-up ( n=1 ) . At 12 months , dysmenorrhea , deep dyspareunia , nonmenstrual pelvic pain , and dyschezia scores were substantially reduced without major between-group differences . Both regimens induced minor unfavorable variations in the serum lipid profile . According to an intention-to-treat analysis , 28 ( 62 % ) out of 45 patients in the ethinyl E2 plus cyproterone acetate group and 33 ( 73 % ) out of 45 in the norethindrone acetate group were satisfied with the treatment received . CONCLUSION ( S ) Low-dose norethindrone acetate could be considered an effective , tolerable , and inexpensive first-choice medical alternative to repeat surgery for treating symptomatic rectovaginal endometriotic lesions in patients who do not seek conception
( S ) Few studies of medical therapies for endometriosis report outcomes that are relevant to patients , and many women gain only limited or intermittent benefit from treatment
OBJECTIVE To assess patient response rates to medical therapies used to treat endometriosis-associated pain .