Do Low-Dose Oral Contraceptives have an Effect on Ovarian Endometrioma Diameter and Endometriosis Symptoms?

Simona Del Forno, Serena Solfrini, Giulia Ferrini, Letizia Zannoni, Valentina Bertoldo, Giorgia Monti, Deborah Leonardi, Antonio Maria Morselli Labate, Alexandro Paccapelo, Renato Seracchioli
In: Journal of Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Disorders · 2013 · vol. 5(4) , pp. 151–158 · doi:10.5301/je.5000167 · W1994162730
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This retrospective study found that drospirenone/ethinylestradiol 3 mg/20 μg reduced endometrioma diameter and dysmenorrhea VAS scores, with continuous use showing greater endometrioma reduction than cyclic use.

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Abstract

Purpose To investigate the effect of a low-dose oral contraceptive containing drospirenone/ethinylestradiol 3 mg/20 μg on endometrioma mean diameter. Methods Fifty women with sonographic diagnosis of ovarian endometrioma and at least 12 months of therapy with drospirenone/ethinylestradiol 3 mg/20 μg, without previous adnexal surgery, were selected for this retrospective study. Endometrioma mean diameter measured with transvaginal ultrasonography and endometriosis-associated symptoms evaluated by a visual analogue scale (VAS) score (0-10) were reported at therapy prescription (baseline) and after 6, 12 and 18 months of treatment. Main outcome measures were endometrioma mean diameters and endometriosis-associated symptoms variations during the follow-up; differences between cyclic and continuous regimen were also considered. Results A significant reduction in endometrioma mean diameter was observed during the follow-up. The reductions of mean diameter versus baseline values were significantly higher in continuous users than in cyclic users at 6 and 18 months of follow-up. No new endometriomas occurred. The dysmenorrhea VAS score significantly decreased during the follow-up. Conclusions Drospirenone/ethinylestradiol 3 mg/20 μg seems to be effective in reducing endometrioma mean diameter. The continuous regimen seems to be associated with a greater reduction than the cyclic one.

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Outcome instruments

VAS-pain

Condition tags

endometriosisendometriomadysmenorrhea

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