{"paper_id":"bbe72892-d002-4384-be8b-60e4a816cd3c","body_text":"Summary\nMEDICAL treatment of endometriosis is suitable as primary therapy in young patients with minimal disease confirmed by laparoscopy. Medical treatment consists of simple analgesia, treatment with combined oestrogen/progestogen preparations, or progestogen therapy alone. Danazol therapy is now widely used in a dose of about 400 mgs daily for a minimum of six months.\nThe success rate in terms of pregnancy is about 60–70%, but when other associated factors are included such as oligospermia or pelvic inflammatory disease, the success rate falls to between 35–56%.\nThe pregnancy rate with medical treatment is more successful with moderate disease than extensive disease, and the recurrence rate after cessation of therapy varies from 17% after one year to 50% after nine years.\nThe side-effects of drug therapy are dose related and include symptoms due to the androgenic effects of the drug, symptoms due to pituitary-gonadal inhibition, generalised systemic effects and disorders in blood chemistry.\nSimilar content being viewed by others\nReferences\nAndrews, W.C., and Larsen, G.D., 1974. Endometriosis: Treatment with hormonal pseudopregnancy and/or operation.Am. J. Obstet. Gynaec. 118,643.\nAudebert, A.J.M., Larrue-Charlus, S., and Emperaire, J.C., 1979. Endometriosis and infertility.Postgraduate Medical Journal,55, suppl. 5, 5.\nBarbieri, R.L., Ryan, K.J., 1981. Danazol: Endocrine pharmacology and therapeutic applications.Am. J. Obstet. Gynaec. 141:4, 453.\nBiberoglu, K.O., Behrman, S.J., 1981. Dosage aspects of Danazol therapy in endometriosis: Short-term and long-term effectiveness.Am. J. Obstet. Gynaec. 139:6, 645.\nBrosens, I.A., Konincky, P.R., and Corvelyn, P.A., 1978. A study of plasma progesterone, oestradiol 17B, prolactin and LH levels and of the luteal phase appearance of the ovaries in patients with endometriosis and infertility.Brit. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 85:246.\nDaniell, J.F., Christianson, C., 1981. Combinedlaparoscopic surgery and Danazol therapy for pelvic endometriosis.Fertil. & Steril. 35:5, 521.\nDmowski, W. P., Cohen, M.R., 1978. Antigonadotropin (Danazol) inthetreatment of endometriosis.Am. J. Obstet, Gynaec. 130:1.\nDuck, S.C., Katayama, K.P., 1981. Danazolmay cause female pseudohermaphroditism.Fertil. & Steril,35:230.\nFraser, J.S., 1979. Danazol — a steroid with a unique combination of actions.Scof. Med. J. 24:147\nGreenblatt, R.B., Tzingounis, V., 1979. Danazol treatment of endometriosis: Long-term follow-up.Fertil. & Steril.32:5, 518.\nJenkin, G., 1980. The mechanism of action of Danazol, a noval steroid derivative.Aust. N. Z. J. Obstet. Gynaec. 20:113.\nKistner, R.W., 1962. Infertility and endometriosis: a plan of therapy.Fertil. & Steril. 13:237.\nMettler, L., and Semm, K., 1979. Clinical and biochemical experiences with Danazol in the treatment of endometriosis in cases with female infertility.Postgraduate Medical JOurnal.55: Suppl. 5, 5.\nMoore, E.E., etal, 1981. Management of pelvic endometriosis with low-dose Danazol.Fertil. & Steril. 36:1,15.\nNoble, A.D., Letchworth, A.T., 1980. Treatment of endometriosis: A study of medical management.Brit. J. Obstet. & Gynaec. 87:726.\nPotts, G.O., Schane, H.P., Edelson., 1980. Pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of Danazol.Drugs 19:321.\nReiva, H.L., Wilson, J.H. and Kawasaki, D.M., 1961. Effect of Norethynodrel on endometriosis.Am. J. Obstet. Gynaec. 82:109.\nVanzyl, J.A., Mullerms, and Van Niekerk, W.A., 1980. Danazol in the treatment of endometriosis.Externa. S. Afr. Med. J. 58:591.\nWheeler, J.M., Malinak, R., 1981. Postoperative Danazol therapy in infertility patients with severe endometriosis.Fertil. & Steril. 36:3&4, 460.\nAuthor information\nAuthors and Affiliations\nRights and permissions\nAbout this article\nCite this article\nLewis, B.V. Medical treatment of endometriosis in infertile patients. Ir J Med Sci 152 (Suppl 2), 22–25 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02945277\nIssue date:\nDOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02945277","source_license":"CC0","license_restricted":false}