Danazol in the Treatment of Infertility

Summary Danazol, an interesting pharmacologic steroid ‘in search of a disease’, was first used by my group in the management of endometriosis because of the marked anti-endometrial effects found during clinical trials. The results in alleviating dysmenorrhoea, dyspareunia, and pelvic discomfort were surprisingly good, but more important was the 40 to 50 % pregnancy rate that occurred following discontinuation of its use. In addition, because we suspected that women with unexplained infertility might be harbouring an occult or microendometriosis, a 3 month course of 200mg of danazol was tried in such patients, and proved effective in overcoming infertility in roughly 40% of patients within 6 months after discontinuation of medication. We serendipitously found that some habitual aborters carried to term after a course of danazol. Accordingly, a trial of 100mg daily for 3 months was undertaken with a satisfactory outcome in more instances than could be attributed to chance alone. To readily appreciate the effectiveness of this agent, one must be aware that conceptions may follow the use of placebos or whatever regimen is employed in about 15 to 20 % of infertile women. The unusually good results that we and other investigators in the field obtained with danazol rules out a placebo effect. Similar content being viewed by others References Audebert, A.J.M. and Emperaire, J.C.: Bilan du traitement de l’endometriose un antigonadotrope. Contraception-Fertilite-Sexualite 5: 731 (1977). Barbieri, R.L.; Canick, J.A.; Makris, A.; Todd, R.B.; Davies, I.J. and Ryan, K.J.: Danazol inhibits steroidogenesis. Fertility and Sterility 28: 809 (1977). Brosens, I.A.; Koninckx, P.R. and Corveleyn, P.A.: A study of plasma progesterone, oestradiol-17 Beta, prolactin and LH levels and of the luteal phase appearance of the ovaries in patients with endometriosis and infertility. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 85: 246 (1978). 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Young, M.D. and Blackmore, W.P.: The use of danazol in the management of endometriosis. Journal of International Medical Research 5(Suppl. 3): 86 (1977). Author information Authors and Affiliations Rights and permissions About this article Cite this article Greenblatt, R.B. Danazol in the Treatment of Infertility. Drugs 19, 362–369 (1980). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-198019050-00006 Published: Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-198019050-00006