Clinical effects of gestrinone for the treatment of pelvic endometriosis in infertile patients.

The clinical efficacy and side effects of oral gestrinone, 2.5 mg twice weekly, were evaluated in this prospective study involving 22 patients with laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis. All patients came to the hospital with infertility problem. After 6 months of treatment, 81 per cent of patients had amenorrhea. Dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain were reduced from 90.9 per cent to 14.3 per cent and 81.8 per cent to 9.5 per cent respectively. Pelvic tenderness and induration were improved from 55.6 per cent and 50.0 per cent to 15.8 per cent and 10.5 per cent respectively. Androgenic effects such as acne was founded in 18.2 per cent of the patients. Return of fertility was observed in 25 per cent (5 patients) after 30-254 days post treatment. No serious side effect was detected during the treatment. The results suggest that gestrinone may be considered an option for the treatment of endometriosis related infertility.