A gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist versus a low-dose oral contraceptive for pelvic pain associated with endometriosis

P Vercellini, Paolo Vercellini, Vercellini P, Trespidi L, Laura Trespìdi, L Trespidi, A. Colombo, Alberto Colombo, Colombo A, Vendola N, Nicoletta Vendola, N Vendola, Marchini M, M Marchini, Maurizio Marchini, Crosignani PG, P. G. Crosignani, Pier Giorgio Crosignani
Fertility and sterility · 1993 · vol. 60(1) , pp. 75–79 · doi:10.1016/s0015-0282(16)56039-7 · PMID:8513962 · W252619442
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This study compared the efficacy of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist with a low-dose oral contraceptive in treating pelvic pain associated with endometriosis.

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Abstract

ObjectivesTo evaluate the efficacy of goserelin versus a low-dose cyclic oral contraceptive (OC) in improving pelvic pain in women with endometriosis and to compare recurrence of symptoms during follow-up.DesignOpen-label, randomized trial.SettingUniversity hospital endometriosis center.PatientsFifty-seven women with moderate or severe pelvic pain and laparoscopically diagnosed endometriosis.InterventionsSix-month treatment with goserelin depot (n = 29) or a low-dose cyclic OC (n = 28) followed by 6-month follow-up.Main outcome measuresVariation in severity of symptoms during treatment and at the end of follow-up as shown by a linear analog scale and a verbal rating scale.ResultsAt 6 months of treatment, a significant reduction in deep dyspareunia was observed in both groups, with goserelin superior to the OC at linear analog scale assessment. Nonmenstrual pain was diminished on both scales without differences between treatments. Women taking the OC experienced a significant reduction in dysmenorrhea. At the end of follow-up, symptoms reappeared without differences in severity between the groups.ConclusionsLow-dose cyclic OCs may be a valuable alternative for the treatment of dysmenorrhea and nonmenstrual pain associated with endometriosis. Symptoms recurred in most subjects 6 months after drug withdrawal.

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Condition tags

dysmenorrheadyspareuniaendometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Contraceptives, Oral Endometriosis Goserelin Pain Adolescent Adult Contraceptives, Oral Contraceptives, Oral Dysmenorrhea Dysmenorrhea Dyspareunia Dyspareunia Endometriosis Female Follow-Up Studies Goserelin Humans Pain Recurrence

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.

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