title: New trends for the medical treatment of endometriosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endometriosis is a benign sex hormone-dependent gynecological disease, characterized by the presence and growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus; it affects 10% of women of reproductive age and is associated with infertility and pain. Treatment of endometriosis involves conservative or radical surgery, or medical therapies. The goals for endometriosis treatment may be the relief of pain and/or a successful pregnancy achievement in infertile patients. Treatment must be individualized with a multidisciplinary approach. The classical treatments carry adverse side effects and in some cases a negative impact on quality of life. New agents promise a distinct perspective in endometriosis treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The aim of this paper is to systematically review the literature evidence of new medical treatments for endometriosis, defined as pharmacological treatments not yet commonly available and currently under investigation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These new medical therapies would be used associated with surgical treatment and, in the future, will render possible the association of hormone therapy with non-hormonal treatment for endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Policlinico Santa Maria alle Scotte, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Ana Luiza L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Fernando M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petraglia
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D035703:Therapies, Investigational / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015507:Drugs, Investigational