Laparoscopic uterosacral nerve ablation with and without presacral neurectomy in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea: a prospective efficacy analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic uterosacral nerve (LUNA) alone vs. LUNA plus presacral neurectomy (PN) in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.

STUDY DESIGN: Seventy-four patients were randomly allocated to LUNA alone or LUNA plus PN. Evaluation of severity of menstrual pain was based on multidimensional scoring.

RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients were eligible for analysis (35 LUNA alone, 32 LUNA plus PN). Baseline demographic features were comparable between the 2 groups. There was no difference between them in the proportion of improvement in dysmenorrhea at 3 months of follow-up (69% for LUNA vs. 73% for LUNA plus PN, p = 0.923), and the results were maintained at 6 and 12 months of follow-up. More surgical complications were found in the LUNA plus PN group.

CONCLUSION: For patients with primary dysmenorrhea, LUNA plus PN has no additive therapeutic advantage over LUNA alone, and more surgical complications may be encountered.