Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Danazol in the Treatment of Endometriosis

Drugs volume 19, pages 331–341 (1980)Cite this article

Summary

Endometriosis is described and its aetiology and clinical characteristics discussed. Treatment by both radical and conservative surgery, by pseudopregnancy, by danazol and by combinations of these methods is considered. The mode of action of both pseudopregnancy and danazol therapy, and the place of each in management of individual cases, are discussed. Results in the author’s series of cases treated with danazol are presented and considered alongside others derived from the literature. Relief of symptoms, particularly of pain and dyspareunia, and the suppression of menstruation together with regression of lesions, may usually be achieved within 4 to 6 weeks of starting danazol therapy even using ‘lower’ dosages. In many instances long lasting relief of symptoms for up to 4 to 5 years has been reported and permanent ‘cure’ can be hoped for in up to 60% of cases. Whatever the method of treatment, however, short of radical surgery, eventually some recurrence of symptoms and reactivation of lesions must be expected. Even temporary relief is valuable, in that it may afford time for one or more pregnancies, and may make possible postponement of radical surgery. The nature and incidence of side effects with danazol are contrasted with those reported with other types of hormone therapy. Side effects are to a large extent dosage-related and the effect of low dose regimes on the occurrence of side effects is pointed out.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Abdel-Shahid, R.B.; Beresford, J.M. and Curry, R.H.: Endometriosis of the ureter with vascular involvement. Obstetrics and Gynecology 43: 113–117 (1974).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ansbacher, R.: Treatment of endometriosis with danazol. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 121: 283–284 (1975).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Audebert, A.J.M.; Bernard, I. and Emperaire, J.C.: Treatment of endometriosis with danazol. Gynecologie 1: 29–34 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  • Audebert, A.J.M.; Larrue-Charlus, S. and Emperaire, J.C.: Endometriosis and infertility. Postgraduate Medical Journal 55(Suppl. 5): 10 (1979).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Andrews, W.C. and Larsen, G.D.: Endometriosis, treatment with hormonal pseudopregnancy and/or operation. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 118: 643–651 (1974).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cattell, R.B. and Swinton, N.W.: Endometriosis, with particular reference to conservative treatment. New England Journal of Medicine 214: 341–346 (1936).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chalmers, J.A.: Treatment of endometriosis with anovlar. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Commonwealth 69:801–803 (1962).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chalmers, J.A.: Pseudo-pregnancy treatment of endometriosis; in Chalmers et al. (Eds) Proceedings of an International Symposium on Obstetrics and Gynecology p. 66 (Fondazione Carlo Erba, Milano 1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Chalmers, J.A.: Endometriosis (Butterworths, London 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  • Chalmers, J.A. and Shervington, P.C.: Danazol treatment and follow-up of patients with endometriosis. Journal of International Medical Research 5(Suppl. 3): 72–74 (1977).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chalmers, J.A. and Shervington, P.C.: Follow-up of patients with endometriosis treated with danazol. Postgraduate Medical Journal 55(Suppl. 5): 44–45 (1979).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dmowski, W.P.: Endocrine properties and clinical application of danazol. Fertility and Sterility 31: 237–251 (1979).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dmowski, W.P. and Cohen, M.R.: Antigonadotrophin (azol) in the treatment of endometriosis. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 130: 41–48 (1978).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Editorial: Medical management of endometriosis. British Medical Journal 1: 1175–1176 (1977).

  • Fraser, I.S. and Thorburn, G.D.: Effect of danazol on pituitary gonadotrophins in post-menopausal women, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 18: 247–249 (1978).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Friedlander, R.L.: The treatment of endometriosis with danazol. Journal of Reproductive Medicine 10:197–199 (1973).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goebel, R. and Rjosk, H.K.: New synthetic gestagen Danazol in treatment of endometriosis, fibrosystic disease of breast and prolonged primary infertility. Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde 38: 932–940 (1978).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Greenblatt, R.B.; Borenstein, R. and Hernandez-Ayup, S.: Experiences with danazol (an antigonadotrophin) in the treatment of infertility. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 118: 783–787 (1974).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Greenblatt, R.B.; Dmowski, W.P.; Mahesh, V.B. and Scholer, H.F.L.: Clinical studies with an antigonadotrophin — danazol. Fertility and Sterility 22: 102–112 (1971).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Halban, J.: Hysteroadenosis metastatica (die lymphogene genese der sog. Adenofibromatosis heterotopica). Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift 37(47): 1205–1206 (1924).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammond, C.B. and Haney, A.F.: Conservative treatment of endometriosis: 1978. Fertility and Sterility 30(5): 497–509 (1978).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ingerslev, M.: Danazol, an antigonadotrophic agent in the treatment of recurrent pelvic and intestinal endometriosis. Acta Obstetrica Gynaecologica Scandinavica 56: 343–346 (1977).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Javert, C.T.: Pathogenesis of endometriosis based on endometrial homeoplasia, direct extension, exfoliation and implantation, lymphatic and hematogenous metastasis (including 5 case reports of endometrial tissue in pelvic lymph nodes). Cancer 2: 399–410 (1949).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Javert, C.T.: Observations on pathology and spread of endometriosis based on theory of benign metastasis. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 62: 477–487 (1951).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Javert, CT.: Spread of benign and malignant endometrium in lymphatic system with note on co-existing vascular involvement. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 64: 780–806 (1952).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Joosse, L.A.: Endometriosis externa. Nederlandsch Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde 105: 561–563 (1961).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kistner, R.W.: The treatment of endometriosis by inducing pseudo-pregnancy with ovarian hormones — a report of 58 cases. Fertility and Sterility 10: 539–556 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kistner, R.W.: Gynecology: Principles and Practice, 3rd Ed (Yearbook Medical Publishers, Chicago 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lauersen, N.H.; Wilson, K.H. and Birnbaum, S.: Danazol, an anti-gonadotrophic agent in the treatment of pelvic endometriosis. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 123: 742–747 (1975).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Legros, R. and Fain-Giono, J.: Endometriose para-menopausique et postmenopausique. A propos de 20 cas sur 351 d’endometriose. Revue Francaise de Gynecologie et Obstetrique 68: 25–33 (1973).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lind, T. and Cook, D.B.: How does danazol work? Lancet 1: 1401–1402 (1976).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meigs, J.V.: Medical treatment of endometriosis and significance of endometriosis. Surgery Gynecology and Obstetrics 89: 317–321 (1949).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mettler, L. and Seiz, E.. Application of danazol for the treatment of endometriosis genitalis externa. Benelux Symposium Danatrol pp. 109–112 (European Press, Ghent 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mettler, L. and Semm, K.: Clinical and biochemical experiences with danazol in the treatment of endometriosis in cases with female infertility. Postgraduate Medical Journal 55(Suppl. 5): 27 (1979).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, R.: Anatomie und Histogenese der Myome und Fibrome; in Veit (Ed) Handbuch der Gynakologie, Vol. 1 (Bergmann Verlag, Wiesbaden 1907).

    Google Scholar 

  • Noble, A.D.: Preliminary observations of the use of danazol in endometriosis compared to oestrogen-progestogen therapy. Journal of International Medical Research 5(Suppl. 3): 79 (1977).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Noble, A.D. and Letchworth, A.T.: Medical treatment of endometriosis: a controlled trial. Postrgraduate Medical Journal 55(Suppl. 5): 37–39 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  • Philipp, E. and Mettler, L.: When the mucosa wanders. Selecta 20(45): 4180–4192 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rannevik, G.: Hormonal, metabolic and clinical effects of danazol in the treatment of endometriosis. Postgraduate Medical Journal 55(Suppl. 5): 14–20 (1979).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rochefrette, J.: Traitement chirurgical de l’endometriose genitale. Cahiers Medicaux Lyonnais 43(25): 2221–2223 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ronnberg, L.; Ylostalo, P. and Jarvinen, P.A.: Effects of danazol in treatment of severe endometriosis. Postgraduate Medical Journal 55(Suppl. 5): 21 (1979).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sampson, J.A.: Intestinal adenomas of endometrial type; their importance and their relation to ovarian haematomas of endometrial type (perforating haemorrhagic cysts of the ovary). Archives of Surgery (Chicago) 4: 217–280 (1922).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schifrin, B.S.; Erez, S. and Moore, J.G.: Teenage endometriosis. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 116: 973–980 (1973).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scott, R.B.: External endometriosis. Postgraduate Medicine 39: 295–303 (1966).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sheets, J.L.; Symmonds, R.E. and Banner, E.A.: Conservative management of endometriosis. Obstetrics and Gynecology 19: 907–909 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Spooner, J.B.: Classification of side effects to danazol therapy. Journal of International Medical Research 5(Suppl. 3): 15 (1977).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ward, G.D.: Dosage aspects of danazol therapy in the treatment of endometriosis. Postgraduate Medical Journal 55(Suppl. 5): 7 (1979).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Whitehouse, D.B. and Bates, A.: Endometriosis: results of conservative surgery. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Empire 62: 378–384 (1955).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Whitehouse, W.L.: Personal communication (1974).

  • Williams, B.F.P.: Conservative treatment of endometriosis with progestin therapy. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 93: 715–719 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood, G.P.; Wu, C-H.; Flickinger, G.L. and Mikhail, G.: Hormonal changes associated with danazol therapy. Obstetrics and Gynecology 45: 302–304 (1975).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Young, M.D. and Blackmore, W.P.: The use of danazol in the management of endometriosis. Journal of International Medical Research 5(Suppl. 3): 86–91 (1977).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Churchfield Cottage, Whitbourne, Worchester, WR6 5RT, England

    J. A. Chalmers

Authors
  1. J. A. Chalmers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chalmers, J.A. Danazol in the Treatment of Endometriosis. Drugs 19, 331–341 (1980). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-198019050-00002

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-198019050-00002

Keywords

search

Navigation