title: The incidence and characteristics of uterine bleeding during postoperative GnRH agonist treatment combined with tibolone add-back therapy in endometriosis patients of reproductive age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence and the factors associated with uterine bleeding while taking GnRH agonist treatment combined with tibolone add-back therapy in endometriosis patients of reproductive age.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of 188 endometriosis (stages III-IV) patients of reproductive age receiving postoperative GnRH agonist treatment combined with tibolone add-back therapy for 6 months were reviewed. Clinical features were analyzed and compared between the two groups: Group A, patients without an episode of uterine bleeding (n=137) and Group B, patients that had experienced uterine bleeding (n=51).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Demographic profiles were not different in the two groups. The incidence of uterine bleeding was 27.1% and irregular spotting was the most frequent bleeding pattern. The proportion of patients who received ovarian surgery during pelviscopy was higher in Group B (p<0.05), but other clinical characteristics were not different between two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of uterine bleeding was 27.1%. And, the proportion of patients who received ovarian surgery was higher in patients with uterine bleeding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50 Ilwon-Dong Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: So-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Jung-Ae
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Byung-Koo
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Duk Soo
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Doo Seok
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D009652:Norpregnenes; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; C027385:tibolone