title: Randomized trial of leuprolide versus continuous oral contraceptives in the treatment of endometriosis-associated pelvic pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of leuprolide and continuous oral contraceptives in the treatment of endometriosis-associated pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, double-blind controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic medical centers in Rochester, New York, and Boston, Massachusetts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven women with endometriosis-associated pelvic pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight weeks of either depot leuprolide, 11.25 mg IM every 12 weeks with hormonal add-back using norethindrone acetate 5 mg orally, daily; or a generic monophasic oral contraceptive (1 mg norethindrone + 35 mg ethinyl estradiol) given daily.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biberoglu and Behrman (B&B) pain scores, numerical rating scores (NRS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Index of Sexual Satisfaction (ISS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on enrollment of 47 women randomized to continuous oral contraceptives and to leuprolide, there were statistically significant declines in B&B, NRS, and BDI scores from baseline in both groups. There were no significant differences, however, in the extent of reduction in these measures between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Leuprolide and continuous oral contraceptives appear to be equally effective in the treatment of endometriosis-associated pelvic pain.
authors.affiliation: UF&Shands Health System, University of Florida Health Science Center, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0014, USA. dguzick@ufl.edu
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Guzick
authors.forename: Li-Shan
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Betsy A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Broadman
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nealon
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Hornstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016729:Leuprolide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D019529:Sexuality / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D016729:Leuprolide