The use of combined oral contraceptives in patients with endometriosis

In: Medical alphabet · 2023 · pp. 14–20 · doi:10.33667/2078-5631-2023-3-14-20 · W4362555495
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AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-06

This review discusses hormonal therapy for endometriosis, focusing on combined oral contraceptives (COCs) and other approved treatments that suppress ovulation and target endometriotic implants based on the disease's estrogen-dependent and progesterone-resistant pathogenesis.

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This narrative review discusses the use of combined oral contraceptives (КОК) as part of hormonal therapy for endometriosis, framing treatment within endocrine pathogenesis involving estrogen dependence and progesterone resistance, alongside downstream effects on apoptosis, oxidative stress, inflammation, and neuroangiogenesis. The review outlines the rationale for suppressing ovulation via inhibition of the hypothalamus–pituitary–ovary axis and describes that certain hormonal agents, including КОК, are officially approved to relieve endometriosis symptoms. A major caveat is that, as a review, it does not provide new patient-level results or quantify comparative efficacy of КОК using a single systematic methodology. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it specifically reviews combined oral contraceptives in the hormonal management of endometriosis.

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Abstract

Endometriosis is a benign inflammatory hormone-dependent disease characterized by pain and infertility. It seriously affect women’s health., endometriosis is a chronic disease it requires long-term treatment. Currently, hormonal drugs are most widely used for the treatment of endometriosis, which is based on the endocrine mechanisms of its pathogenesis. Key points are estrogen dependence and progesterone resistance, which provide implantation of ectopic endometrial cells, reduce apoptosis and increase oxidative stress, inflammation and neuroangiogenesis. the pain and infertility is explained by hormonal and inflammatory changes, as well as the systemic diseases and psychiatric disorders often associated with endometriosis. Hormonal treatment of endometriosis is aimed at suppressing ovulation through inhibition of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, as well as directly on endometrioid implants. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists and antagonists, progestins, combined oral contraceptives (COCs) are now offcially approved for use to relieve the symptoms of endometriosis. The review provides information on the current possibilities of hormonal therapy for endometriosis, based on an understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease.
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Применение комбинированных оральных контрацептивов у больных эндометриозом https://doi.org/10.33667/2078-5631-2023-3-14-20 Аннотация Эндометриоз – доброкачественное воспалительное гормонозависимое заболевание характеризуется болью и бесплодием, которые серьезно влияют на женское здоровье. Будучи хроническим заболеванием, эндометриоз требует длительного лечения. В настоящее время для терапии эндометриоза наиболее широко используются гормональные препараты, что основано на эндокринных механизмах его патогенеза. Эстрогенная зависимость и резистентность к прогестерону являются ключевыми моментами, обеспечивающими имплантацию эктопических клеток эндометрия, снижение апоптоза и усиление окислительного стресса, воспаления и нейроангиогенеза. Гормональные и воспалительные изменения объясняют боль и бесплодие, а также системные заболевания и психические расстройства, часто сопутствующие эндометриозу. Гормональное лечение эндометриоза направлено на подавление овуляции посредством ингибирования оси гипоталамус-гипофиз-яичник, а также напрямую на эндометриоидные имплантаты. Агонисты и антагонисты гонадотропин-рилизинг гормона (ГнРГ), прогестины, комбинированные оральные контрацептивы (КОК) в настоящее время официально разрешены для использования с целью облегчения симптомов эндометриоза. В обзоре представлена информация о современных возможностях гормональной терапии эндометриоза, основанной на понимании патогенеза заболевания. Об авторе И. В. КузнецоваРоссия Кузнецова Ирина Всеволодовна, д.м.н., проф., зам. ген. директора по научно-исследовательской работе Москва Список литературы 1. Chapron C, Marcellin L, Borghese B, Santulli P. Rethinking mechanisms, diagnosis and management of endometriosis. Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. 2019;15(11):666–682. DOI: 10.1038/s41574–019–0245-z 2. Kavoussi SK, Lim CS, Skinner BD, Lebovic DI, As-Sanie S. 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Continuous versus cyclic oral contraceptives after laparoscopic excision of ovarian endometriomas: a systematic review and metaanalysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2016;214(2):203–211. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2015.08.074 Рецензия Для цитирования: Кузнецова И.В. Применение комбинированных оральных контрацептивов у больных эндометриозом. Медицинский алфавит. 2023;(3):14-20. https://doi.org/10.33667/2078-5631-2023-3-14-20 For citation: Kuznetsova I.V. The use of combined oral contraceptives in patients with endometriosis. Medical alphabet. 2023;(3):14-20. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.33667/2078-5631-2023-3-14-20 JATS XML

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