Do Low-Dose Oral Contraceptives have an Effect on Ovarian Endometrioma Diameter and Endometriosis Symptoms?. Issue 4 (October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Del Forno, Simona; Solfrini, Serena; Ferrini, Giulia; Zannoni, Letizia; Bertoldo, Valentina; Monti, Giorgia; Leonardi, Deborah; Labate, Antonio Maria Morselli; Paccapelo, Alexandro; Seracchioli, Renato
• Is Part Of: Journal of endometriosis and pelvic pain disorders. Volume 5:Issue 4(2013)
• Page Start: 151
• Page End: 158
• Publication Date: 2013-10
• Subjects: Low-dose combined oral contraceptives -- Endometriosis -- Ovary; Endometriosis -- Periodicals; Pelvic pain -- Periodicals; 618.1
• DOI: 10.5301/je.5000167
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2284-0265

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of a low-dose oral contraceptive containing drospirenone/ethinylestradiol 3 mg/20 μg on endometrioma mean diameter. Methods: Fifty women with sonographic diagnosis of ovarian endometrioma and at least 12 months of therapy with drospirenone/ethinylestradiol 3 mg/20 μg, without previous adnexal surgery, were selected for this retrospective study. Endometrioma mean diameter measured with transvaginal ultrasonography and endometriosis-associated symptoms evaluated by a visual analogue scale (VAS) score (0-10) were reported at therapy prescription (baseline) and after 6, 12 and 18 months of treatment. Main outcome measures were endometrioma mean diameters and endometriosis-associated symptoms variations during the follow-up; differences between cyclic and continuous regimen were also considered. Results: A significant reduction in endometrioma mean diameter was observed during the follow-up. The reductions of mean diameter versus baseline values were significantly higher in continuous users than in cyclic users at 6 and 18 months of follow-up. No new endometriomas occurred. The dysmenorrhea VAS score significantly decreased during the follow-up. Conclusions: Drospirenone/ethinylestradiol 3 mg/20 μg seems to be effective in reducing endometrioma mean diameter. The continuous regimen seems to be associated with a greater reduction than the cyclic one.