Progestin-only pills may be a better first-line treatment for endometriosis than combined estrogen-progestin contraceptive pills

Casper RF, Robert F Casper
Fertility and sterility · 2017 · vol. 107(3) , pp. 533–536 · doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.01.003 · PMID:28162779 · W2583357828
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-06 ⓘ

This study found that progestin-only pills may be a more effective first-line treatment option for endometriosis compared to combined estrogen-progestin contraceptive pills.

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Abstract

For decades, combined estrogen-progestin oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) have been the first-line treatment for menstrual and pelvic pain associated with endometriosis without any clinical evidence of efficacy. Initial relief provided by OCPs is likely a result of improvement in primary dysmenorrhea. Biologic data and limited clinical evidence support a potential adverse effect of long-term use of OCPs on the progression of endometriosis. In contrast, there is randomized, controlled trial data to support the use of oral progestin-only treatment for pelvic pain associated with endometriosis and for suppressing the anatomic extent of endometriotic lesions. Both norethindrone acetate and dienogest have regulatory approval for treating endometriosis and may be better than OCPs as a first-line therapy.

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Condition tags

endometriosischronic_pelvic_pain

MeSH descriptors

Contraceptives, Oral, Combined Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal Endometriosis Endometrium Nandrolone Norethindrone Pelvic Pain Progestins Administration, Oral Contraceptives, Oral, Combined Contraceptives, Oral, Combined Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Endometrium Female

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (45)

Cited by (50)

Source provenance

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