title: Dienogest in the treatment of endometriosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dienogest (DNG) is an oral progestin, derivative of 19-nortestosterone, that has recently been introduced for the treatment of endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review examines the clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of DNG in the treatment of endometriosis. The material included in the current manuscript was searched and obtained via Medline, Pubmed and EMBASE, from inception until February 2014. The term 'dienogest' was associated with the following search terms: 'endometriosis', 'pharmacokinetics', 'safety' and 'efficacy'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several trials demonstrated the clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of DNG. However the use of DNG is associated with some limitations. So far, no study investigated the potential of contraceptive effect of this treatment and therefore, it should be recommended with other methods of contraception (e.g., barrier methods). A further limitation of the use of DNG as daily therapy in the long term is that the cost of the therapy is higher than other progestins available on the market and combined oral contraceptives. Therefore, future studies should be designed to compare the efficacy and safety of DNG with other progestins.
authors: University of Genoa, IRCCS San Martino Hospital and National Institute for Cancer Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Largo R. Benzi 1, 16132 Genoa , Italy +01139 010511525 ; +01139 010511525 ; simone.ferrero@unige.it.
authors: Nicolò
authors: N
authors: Bizzarri
authors: Valentino
authors: V
authors: Remorgida
authors: Umberto
authors: U
authors: Leone Roberti Maggiore
authors: Carolina
authors: C
authors: Scala
authors: Emanuela
authors: E
authors: Tafi
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Ghirardi
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Salvatore
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Candiani
authors: Pier Luigi
authors: PL
authors: Venturini
authors: Simone
authors: S
authors: Ferrero
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009277:Nandrolone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011372:Progestins / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D011372:Progestins; C023635:dienogest; D009277:Nandrolone
keywords: dienogest; efficacy; endometriosis; hormonal; pharmacokinetics; progestin; safety