Treatment of endometriosis-related pain: options and outcomes

Endometriosis-associated pain represents a challenge for both the patient and the health care provider since it is often difficult to design treatment strategies resulting in improvement of the symptoms. The association between endometriosis stage and severity of pelvic symptoms is limited. Surgery is generally considered the first line treatment in women affected, at least in those who have not been previously operated, but there are several situations in which medical treatments are useful. Given their good tolerability, minor metabolic effects and low cost, progestogens with or without the addition of estrogens, can be considered the drugs of choice and are currently the only safe and inexpensive alternative to surgery. Progestogens are effective in controlling pain symptoms in approximately three of four women with endometriosis. There is little or no difference in the effectiveness of GnRH agonist and add-back treatment in comparison with other medical treatments for endometriosis while the surgical interruption of pelvic nerve pathways entail some clinically relevant risks.