Immediate and delayed add-back hormonal replacement therapy during ultra long GnRH agonist treatment of chronic cyclical pelvic pain.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the safety and efficacy of long-term use of long-acting GnRH agonist in women with chronic cyclical pelvic pain using immediate versus delayed add-back hormonal replacement therapy (HRT).


METHODS
A prospective randomised trial.


METHODS
Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Academic Unit, University Teaching Hospital and NHS Hospitals.


METHODS
Thirty-eight premenopausal women with chronic cyclical pelvic pain were recruited.


METHODS
Women were given Zoladex 10.8 mg over 18 months and randomised to receive HRT (tibolone 2.5 mg) either immediately or after 6 months. Follow up was 12-month post-treatment.


METHODS
Bone mineral density at 6 months, the end of treatment (18 months), and 12 months later, pain and quality of life.


RESULTS
Women treated with immediate HRT add-back showed less bone mineral density loss at 6 months and less vasomotor symptoms compared with those who had delayed HRT add-back treatment. Long-term follow up showed both groups experienced equivalent bone mineral density loss. Pain and health-related quality-of-life assessment showed improvement in both groups but there was evidence of a return to baseline levels after ending treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term use of GnRH agonist plus immediate add-back HRT is a safe and acceptable approach to intractable cyclical pelvic pain. Given the delay in reactivation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-ovarian axis after long-term suppression, an intermittent dose regime with GnRH agonist might warrant investigation.
Al-Azemi
M
M
Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, The Jessop Wing, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK. alazemimajda@hsc.edu.kw
Jones
G
G
Sirkeci
F
F
Walters
S
S
Houdmont
M
M
Ledger
W
W
D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists; D017273:Goserelin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017697:Premenopause; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D009652:Norpregnenes; D017273:Goserelin; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; C027385:tibolone