Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist with add-back treatment is as effective and tolerable as dienogest in preventing pain recurrence after laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis.

PURPOSE: This study was performed to compare the efficacy and tolerability of GnRH agonist with add-back therapy versus dienogest treatment for preventing pelvic pain recurrence after laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis.

METHODS: Sixty-four reproductive-aged women who underwent laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis received post-operative medical treatment with either GnRH agonist plus 17β-estradiol and norethisterone acetate (n = 28) or dienogest (n = 36) for 6 months. The pre- to post-treatment changes in pain were assessed using a visual analogue scale, and changes in quality-of-life and menopausal symptoms were measured by questionnaire.

RESULTS: Visual analogue scale pain score decreased significantly for both treatments with no significant differences between groups. Neither physical, psychological, social, and environmental components of quality-of-life nor menopausal rating scale score were significantly different between the two groups. Bone mineral density at the lumbar spine declined significantly in both treatment groups (-2.5 % for GnRH agonist plus add-back and -2.3 % for dienogest), with no significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSION: GnRH agonist and add-back therapy using 17β-estradiol and norethisterone acetate are as effective and tolerable as dienogest for the prevention of pelvic pain recurrence after laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis.