title: Effects of low dose oral contraceptive pill containing drospirenone/ethinylestradiol in patients with endometrioma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Low dose oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) that contain synthetic estrogen and progestin are often used to relieve chronic pelvic pain associated with endometriosis. We sought to evaluate the efficacy of drospirenone/ethinylestradiol (DRSP/EE) with low-dose estrogen in treating endometrioma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective clinical study in six hospitals and one clinic in Japan was conducted. Forty-nine 23- to 45-year-old patients who suffered from endometriosis-associated dysmenorrhea were included in the study. The primary endpoint was the change in size of ovarian endometrioma as measured by transvaginal ultrasonography. The secondary endpoint was the change in dysmenorrhea as evaluated by VAS (visual analog scale) scores before treatment and at 3 and 6 cycles of treatment. In addition, serum CA125, anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-8 were evaluated after 6 cycles of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The maximum diameter and volume of the ovarian endometrioma significantly decreased after 3 and 6 cycles compared with pretreatment. VAS scores of dysmenorrhea pain were also reduced after 1, 3 and 6 cycles. A significant correlation between the reduced size of the endometrioma and the decline of VAS scores was found. The levels of serum CA125 and AMH concentration were decreased after 6 cycles. No significant changes were observed in serum IL-6 and IL-8.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low dose DRSP/EE therapy is a promising treatment not only to reduce the size of endometrioma but also for dysmenorrhea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago 683-8504, Japan. Electronic address: tani4327@med.tottori-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Fuminori
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.affiliation: Four Seasons Ladies Clinic, 1-18-9 Nihonbashi-Ningyo-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0013, Japan.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Enatsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kurashiki Heisei Hospital, 4-3-38 Oimatsu-cho, Kurashiki 710-0826, Japan.
authors.forename: Ikuko
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ota
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Matsue Seikyo General Hospital, 8-8-8 Nishi-tsuda, Matsue 690-8522, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toda
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago 683-8504, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arata
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago 683-8504, Japan.
authors.forename: Tasuku
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000736:Androstenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D065851:Ovarian Reserve / Q000187:drug effects; D010053:Ovary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D045167:Progesterone Congeners / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000736:Androstenes; D015415:Biomarkers; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D004967:Estrogens; D045167:Progesterone Congeners; C534342:drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol combination; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; C035144:drospirenone
keywords: DRSP; Low dose oral contraceptive pills; Ovarian endometrioma