GnRH agonist combined with add-back therapy in the treatment of endometriosis

Objectives: To explore the effect of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist(GnRH agonist) combined with add-back therapy for the treatment of endometriosis.Methods: A total of 102 patients with endometriosis were randomly divided into three groups: 50 patients treated with gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist(GnRH-a) combined with add-back therapy(group Ⅰ),28 patients treated with GnRH-a withdrawal therapy(group Ⅱ),24 patients included as the control group(group Ⅲ).The three groups were compared in terms of curative efficacy,pituitary ovarian axis endocrine changes and side effects.Results: The total effective rates in Group I and II were respectively 96% and 85.7%,significantly higher than the rate of 75% in Group Ⅲ(P0.05)75%.Patients in group Ⅰ and Ⅱ showed significantly decreased level of serum E2,FSH,LH,P(P0.05),but little changes in bone mineral density(P0.05).Conclusion: The use of GnRH-a combined with add-back therapy have better effect than withdrawal therapy and conventional treatment for endometriosis.It can restore the normal endocrine function and produce little side effects.