Oral contraceptives in the prevention of endometrioma recurrence: does the different progestins used make a difference?

Objective The primary aim of the study was to analyze the endometrioma recurrence rate in patients who underwent laparoscopic excision followed by postoperative long-term regimen of oral contraceptives (OCs).

168 patients who underwent a conservative laparoscopic surgery for endometrioma, during the period between September 2009 and August 2010 in three university hospitals were studied. A long-term OCs therapy was offered to all women following surgery. Patients were randomly divided into three groups according to different progestins used (desogestrel, gestodene, dienogest). Women who refused a postoperative hormonal therapy served as control. Follow-up visits and transvaginal scan were planned at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery. All patients who showed an ultrasound persistence of the endometrioma at 1 month follow-up were excluded from clinical analysis.

Of the 168 patients, 131 completed the 24 months follow-up. Endometrioma recurrence was found in 21 (12.5 %) of all patients, it was unilateral in 17 cases while bilateral in 4 cases. The rate of recurrent endometrioma was statistically significant in non-users compared to the long-term OCs treated patients.

The current data suggest the usefulness of long-term OCs regimen after conservative surgery for the prevention of ovarian endometrioma recurrence. As a statistical significant difference could not be observed between OCs groups, further study on the individual molecules is required in order to really understand the effect of each of them. Similar content being viewed by others

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Rights and permissions About this article Cite this article Cucinella, G., Granese, R., Calagna, G. et al. Oral contraceptives in the prevention of endometrioma recurrence: does the different progestins used make a difference?. Arch Gynecol Obstet 288, 821–827 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-013-2841-9 Received: Accepted: Published: Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-013-2841-9