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Medical treatment of endometriosis in infertile patients

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Summary

MEDICAL treatment of endometriosis is suitable as primary therapy in young patients with minimal disease confirmed by laparoscopy. Medical treatment consists of simple analgesia, treatment with combined oestrogen/progestogen preparations, or progestogen therapy alone. Danazol therapy is now widely used in a dose of about 400 mgs daily for a minimum of six months.

The success rate in terms of pregnancy is about 60–70%, but when other associated factors are included such as oligospermia or pelvic inflammatory disease, the success rate falls to between 35–56%.

The pregnancy rate with medical treatment is more successful with moderate disease than extensive disease, and the recurrence rate after cessation of therapy varies from 17% after one year to 50% after nine years.

The side-effects of drug therapy are dose related and include symptoms due to the androgenic effects of the drug, symptoms due to pituitary-gonadal inhibition, generalised systemic effects and disorders in blood chemistry.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Shrodells Wing, Watford General Hospital, UK

    B. V. Lewis

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  1. B. V. Lewis
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Lewis, B.V. Medical treatment of endometriosis in infertile patients. Ir J Med Sci 152 (Suppl 2), 22–25 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02945277

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02945277

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