Part of “CHAPTER 98 – ENDOMETRIOSIS“

The combination estrogen-progestin birth control pill, when used in a continuous (pseudopregnancy) fashion, was found to be effective in the treatment of pelvic pain caused by endometriosis.37 Subsequently, many clinicians noted that some women with endometriosis have some improvement in their dysmenor-rhea and pelvic pain when treated with combination estrogen-progestin pills. However, few randomized clinical trials with oral contraceptives have been performed. One randomized clinical trial compared the effects of continuous (pseudopregnancy) combination estrogen-progestin oral contraceptive versus danazol therapy.38 Symptomatic improvement occurred in 30% of the women given oral contraceptive; however, danazol treatment resulted in symptomatic improvement in 86%. Improvement in physical examination findings occurred in 84% of the women treated with danazol and in 18% of the women treated with continuous oral contraceptive.