Pain of endometriosis: effects of nafarelin and danazol therapy.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy of nafarelin acetate with danazol in the treatment of dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and pelvic pain associated with endometriosis.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized double-blind controlled study. PATIENTS, SETTING, TREATMENTS: Two hundred thirteen patients aged 18 to 48 with laparoscopically confirmed pelvic endometriosis and dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia or pelvic pain were randomly assigned to 6 months of treatment with either nafarelin acetate 800 micrograms per day or 400 micrograms per day, or danazol 800 micrograms per day.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The percentage of patients with dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia or pelvic pain before treatment who still had these symptoms after 6 months of treatment and 6 months following completion of treatment. RESULTS [table: see text]

CONCLUSIONS

Nafarelin acetate and danazol both provided significant relief of dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and pelvic pain during treatment and for 6 months following treatment in women with endometriosis.