Current and emerging treatment options for endometriosis

Simone Ferrero, Giulio Evangelisti, Fabio Barra
Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy · 2018 · vol. 19(10) , pp. 1109–1125 · doi:10.1080/14656566.2018.1494154 · PMID:29975553 · W2872842744
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07 ⓘ

This review outlines current pharmacotherapies like oral contraceptives and progestins, and emerging options such as GnRH antagonists, for managing endometriosis pain and recurrence by suppressing ovarian function.

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Pharmacotherapy has a pivotal role in the management of endometriosis with long-term treatments balancing clinical efficacy (control of pain symptoms and prevention of recurrence of the disease after surgery) with an acceptable safety profile. Treatment choice is based on several factors including age and patient preference, reproductive plans, intensity of pain, severity of disease and incidence of adverse effects. AREAS COVERED: The aim of this review is to provide the reader with a complete overview of drugs that are currently available or are under investigation for the treatment of endometriosis highlighting on-going clinical trials. EXPERT OPINION: Almost all of the available treatment options for endometriosis suppress ovarian function and are not curative. Combined oral contraceptives and progestins are commonly administered to these patients in order to ameliorate pain symptoms. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone-agonists are prescribed when first-line therapies are ineffective, not tolerated or contraindicated. Aromatase inhibitors should be reserved only for women who are refractory to other treatments. Amongst the drugs under development, gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists have shown the most promising results. Presently, are a number of potential therapies currently in pre-clinical or early clinical studies which may alter treatment strategies in the future although further studies are necessary.

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Hormone Antagonists Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal Aromatase Inhibitors Aromatase Inhibitors Drug Combinations Endometriosis Endometriosis Ethinyl Estradiol Ethinyl Estradiol Female Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Hormone Antagonists Humans Norpregnenes Norpregnenes Pain Management

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (100)

Cited by (50)

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License: CC0 · commercial use OK