title: The use of gonadotropin releasing hormone analogues in adolescent and young patients with endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endometriosis is increasingly being recognized and diagnosed in adolescents. As a result of this earlier diagnosis, treatment with agents like gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) begins earlier and may last longer. Long-term effects of GnRHa treatment for endometriosis are of concern when treating adolescents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GnRHas are used for adolescents with surgically confirmed endometriosis. GnRHa treatment is effective for pain reduction, but is associated with menopausal symptoms and decreases in bone density. Different regimens of hormonal add-back therapy have been studied in adults to attempt to prevent these side-effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GnRHa therapy is a highly effective, nonsurgical treatment option for many adolescents with endometriosis, but is accompanied by side-effects of bone loss and menopausal symptoms. Side-effects may be decreased by introducing appropriate add-back therapy. Monitoring of bone density by DXA is recommended for prolonged use of GnRHa in adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. amy.divasta@childrens.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Amy D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: DiVasta
authors.forename: Marc R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Laufer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000009:adverse effects; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone