Treatment of Adenomyosis with Subcutaneous Etonogestrel Implants: A Clinical Observational Study in 17 Patients

Wu J, Jianbo Wu, Huang Y, Yuxiu Huang, Chen L, Lihong Chen, Jifen Hu, Hu J, Yilu Zou, Zou Y
Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2018 · vol. 24 , pp. 6085–6092 · doi:10.12659/msm.908979 · PMID:30171680 · PMC6130172 · W2889084485
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-11 ⓘ

Subcutaneous etonogestrel implants reduced dysmenorrhea, anemia, serum CA125, and uterine volume in 17 adenomyosis patients over 12 months.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-11 · read from full text ⓘ

This clinical observational study investigated the effects of subcutaneous etonogestrel implants in 17 women with adenomyosis, with follow-up at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Researchers compared menstrual bleeding pattern, dysmenorrhea (including a VAS pain score), uterine volume on imaging, serum CA-125, hemoglobin, and reproductive hormone levels, alongside monitoring side effects. At 12 months, uterine volume, serum CA-125, and dysmenorrhea VAS score were significantly lower than baseline, and mean hemoglobin was significantly higher, though bleeding pattern changes and amenorrhoea occurred in some women. The paper does not report a control group and is limited by its small, observational design. This paper is centrally about endometriosis? No—it is centrally about adenomyosis, specifically assessing subcutaneous etonogestrel implants for symptom and biomarker changes over 12 months.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND Adenomyosis is a cause of chronic pelvic pain in women of reproductive age. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of subcutaneous etonogestrel implantation on adenomyosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS A clinical observational study included 17 women with adenomyosis who were treated with subcutaneous etonogestrel implants and followed-up for 12 months. Imaging and clinical observations were undertaken in the 17 patients at baseline (time 0), and at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months following subcutaneous etonogestrel implantation. The following imaging and clinical findings were compared between baseline (time 0) and 12-month follow-up: menstrual bleeding pattern, dysmenorrhea, visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, uterine volume, serum cancer antigen 125 (CA125) levels, hemoglobin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, luteinizing hormone levels, serum estradiol levels, and any treatment side effects. RESULTS All 17 patients treated with etonogestrel implants completed the 12-month follow-up, at which time, the mean hemoglobin level (127.08±2.56 g/L) was significantly higher compared with that at baseline (94.54±5.47 g/L; P<0.01); uterine volume, serum CA125, and VAS score for dysmenorrhea at 12 months (118.03±12.83 cm³, 34.58±9.66 U/mL, and 1.45±0.35, respectively) were significantly lower when compared with baseline (198.53±39.47 cm³, 100.41±49.89 U/mL, and 7.62±0.74, respectively) (P<0.01, for all). However, changes in bleeding pattern and amenorrhoea occurred after treatment in some women. CONCLUSIONS Subcutaneous etonogestrel was effective in reducing some symptoms and signs of adenomyosis, including dysmenorrhea, anemia, serum CA125, and uterine volume.
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Adenomyosis is a cause of chronic pelvic pain in women of reproductive age. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of subcutaneous etonogestrel implantation on adenomyosis.

Material and methods

A clinical observational study included 17 women with adenomyosis who were treated with subcutaneous etonogestrel implants and followed-up for 12 months. Imaging and clinical observations were undertaken in the 17 patients at baseline (time 0), and at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months following subcutaneous etonogestrel implantation. The following imaging and clinical findings were compared between baseline (time 0) and 12-month follow-up: menstrual bleeding pattern, dysmenorrhea, visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, uterine volume, serum cancer antigen 125 (CA125) levels, hemoglobin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, luteinizing hormone levels, serum estradiol levels, and any treatment side effects.

Results

All 17 patients treated with etonogestrel implants completed the 12-month follow-up, at which time, the mean hemoglobin level (127.08±2.56 g/L) was significantly higher compared with that at baseline (94.54±5.47 g/L; P<0.01); uterine volume, serum CA125, and VAS score for dysmenorrhea at 12 months (118.03±12.83 cm³, 34.58±9.66 U/mL, and 1.45±0.35, respectively) were significantly lower when compared with baseline (198.53±39.47 cm³, 100.41±49.89 U/mL, and 7.62±0.74, respectively) (P<0.01, for all). However, changes in bleeding pattern and amenorrhoea occurred after treatment in some women.

Conclusions

Subcutaneous etonogestrel was effective in reducing some symptoms and signs of adenomyosis, including dysmenorrhea, anemia, serum CA125, and uterine volume.

Keywords

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Outcome instruments

VAS-pain

Condition tags

dysmenorrheaendometriosisadenomyosischronic_pelvic_pain

MeSH descriptors

Adenomyosis Desogestrel Desogestrel Adenomyosis Adult China Desogestrel Dysmenorrhea Dysmenorrhea Endometriosis Endometriosis Estradiol Estradiol Female Follicle Stimulating Hormone Follicle Stimulating Hormone Humans Injections, Subcutaneous Levonorgestrel Levonorgestrel

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