Current and future medical treatments for endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic condition characterized by dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, pelvic pain, and infertility. Endometriosis is often treated surgically upon diagnosis, but a high rate of recurrence suggests that a combination of surgical and medical management might provide better outcomes. The primary goal of medical treatment is to interrupt the growth and activity of endometriotic lesions. Due to the chronic nature of this disease, long-term or repeated courses of medication may be required to control symptoms. Medical treatments now recognize the use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, oral contraceptives, danazol, and progestins. Increasing knowledge about the pathogenesis of endometriosis is providing the opportunity to use new agents for treatment, including anti-inflammatory and antiangiogenesis compounds, to prevent or inhibit the development of endometriosis. The future outlook is to use a multiple approach for treating women with endometriosis with the goal of eradicating the disease and eliminating the symptoms.