The role of pharmacotherapy in the treatment of endometriosis across the lifespan

Kaia M. Schwartz, Kaia Schwartz, Natalia C Llarena, Jenna M Rehmer, Elliott G Richards, Tommaso Falcone
Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy · 2020 · vol. 21(8) , pp. 893–903 · doi:10.1080/14656566.2020.1738386 · PMID:32164462 · W3011955864
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This review discusses conventional and emerging pharmacotherapies for endometriosis, examining their application across different patient ages and presentations, and considering future treatment strategies.

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Endometriosis is estimated to affect 10% of reproductive-aged women. The gold standard for treatment is surgery; however, surgery carries a significant morbidity and cost burden. There is an ongoing need for safe, effective medical therapies for endometriosis patients, both in conjunction with and independent of surgical interventions. Most conventional therapies for endometriosis work by a similar mechanism, and efficacy is variable. In recent years, there has been increased interest in the development and testing of novel pharmacotherapies for endometriosis. AREAS COVERED: This review discusses both conventional and emerging treatments for endometriosis. The authors present the application of these drugs in different presentations of endometriosis across the lifespan and discuss how emerging therapies might fit into future medical management of endometriosis. Conventional therapies include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, combined oral contraceptives, progestins, GnRH agonists/antagonists, and aromatase inhibitors. Emerging therapies are focused on disease-specific targets such as endothelial growth factor receptors. EXPERT OPINION: The field of endometriosis therapy is moving toward modifying the immune and inflammatory milieu surrounding endometrial implants. If these drugs show efficacy in clinical trials, combining them with current medical treatment is expected to result in a profound impact on symptom and disease burden for patients who suffer from endometriosis worldwide.

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal Aromatase Inhibitors Contraceptives, Oral, Combined Endometriosis Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Hormone Antagonists Progestins Adult Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal Aromatase Inhibitors Contraceptives, Oral, Combined Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Hormone Antagonists Humans Longevity Progestins

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 (75)

Cited by (20)

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License: CC0 · commercial use OK