Hormonal Therapy in Endometriosis and Adenomyosis: Oral Contraceptives

Several therapies have been thoroughly investigated or approved for treating endometriosis and adenomyosis. The most commonly used oral contraceptives (OC), i.e., low-dose estrogen plus progestin (LEP) products, are administered on a 28-day (21 + 7 placebo) cyclic regimen. Extended LEP regimens may involve 12 weeks of administration rather than 3 weeks of active tablets, followed by 1 week of placebo tablets, thereby reducing the number of withdrawal bleeds for patients with endometriosis. However, LEP is expected to decrease menstrual bleeding and relieve pain in patients with endometriosis and adenomyosis by causing endometrial desquamation and atrophy. A flexible regimen could provide a valuable additional treatment choice for women with endometriosis and adenomyosis. Recently, the need for dysmenorrhea and endometriosis management in adolescent women has been increasingly discussed, and early intervention in young women is crucial. Since medical treatment may not be cytoreductive but hormonal agents may induce dormancy state in the lesions, pharmacological treatment could be crucial for the management of endometriosis and adenomyosis. To maintain the quality of life of women at each stage of life, it is important to select the most effective treatment method, taking into account the implementation of reproductive medicine, including assisted reproductive technology. Access this chapter Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout Purchases are for personal use only Similar content being viewed by others Change history 10 September 2022 Correction to:

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