Tolerability and Shared Decision-Making in the Hormonal Management of Endometriosis-Associated Pain.

Background

The management of endometriosis-associated pain has traditionally focused on analgesic efficacy. However, with high-level evidence demonstrating therapeutic equivalence among principal hormonal classes, the paradigm has shifted towards a patient-centred approach prioritising long-term tolerability and shared decision-making.

Objectives

This review critically synthesises the evidence for the three main hormonal therapies-gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues, dienogest, and gestrinone-focusing on their distinct tolerability and safety profiles to inform this modern clinical framework.

Methods

This narrative review followed the SANRA (Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles) guidelines. The literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science in June 2025.

Results

Our comparative analysis, based on a structured literature search adhering to SANRA guidelines, shows that while all three classes are effective, they present distinct benefit-risk profiles: GnRH analogues offer potent pain relief but induce a hypoestrogenic state requiring add-back therapy to mitigate bone loss and vasomotor symptoms; dienogest preserves bone mineral density but is associated with challenging bleeding patterns and potential mood disturbances; gestrinone provides robust efficacy with a favourable cardiovascular and skeletal safety profile, although its androgenic effects can significantly impact patient adherence.

Conclusions

In the absence of a clear hierarchy of efficacy, the optimal therapeutic choice is not determined by potency, but by a collaborative process in which patient values and tolerance for specific adverse effects guide selection. This review provides a framework to facilitate this shared decision-making (SDM) in clinical practice.