Maintenance therapy with dienogest following gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment for endometriosis-associated pelvic pain.

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether long-term administration of dienogest following gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) therapy would prolong the relief of pelvic pain while reducing the amount of irregular uterine bleeding.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a prospective, non-randomized clinical trial. Among the patients suffering from chronic pelvic pain associated with recurrent endometriosis, Group G (n=38) received GnRH-a for 4-6 months and then dienogest (1 mg/day) for 12 months. The dose of dienogest was increased to 1.5 or 2 mg/day when a patient had uncontrollable uterine bleeding {n=15 (39%)}. Group D (n=33) received only dienogest (2 mg/day) for 12 months. Pelvic pain was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS). Uterine bleeding was semi-quantified using a pictorial blood loss assessment chart (PBAC).

RESULTS

In Group G, GnRH-a significantly reduced the VAS score for pelvic pain, and alleviation was maintained during the 12-month therapy with dienogest. There was no significant difference in pain reduction between Group G and Group D. The PBAC score during the first 6 months on dienogest was significantly smaller in Group G than in Group D.

CONCLUSION

Treatment with a GnRH-a followed by long-term dienogest therapy maintains the relief of endometriosis-associated pelvic pain achieved with GnRH-a therapy for at least 12 months. This regimen reduces the amount of irregular uterine bleeding that often occurs during the early phase of dienogest therapy.