Quality of life and sexual function of women affected by endometriosis-associated pelvic pain when treated with dienogest.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of dienogest (DNG) on quality of life (QoL) and sexual function of women affected by endometriosis pain.


METHODS
Fifty-four women constituted the study group and were given 2 mg/daily DNG; 48 women were given non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and constitut ed the control group. To define the endometriosis-associated pelvic pain, the Visual Analogic Scale (VAS) was used. The Short Form-36 (SF-36), the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS) were used to assess the QoL, the sexual function and the sexual distress, respectively. The study included two follow-ups at 3 and 6 months.


RESULTS
Pain improvement was observed in the study group at 3 (p < 0.05) and 6 months (p < 0.001) of treatment. At the 1st follow-up, women reported QoL improvements in some functions (p < 0.05); at the 2nd follow-up, they reported improvement in all categories (p < 0.001). The FSFI score did not change at the 1st follow-up (p = NS). On the contrary, at the 2nd follow-up, it improved with respect to the baseline (p < 0.05). At the 2nd follow-up, the FSFI score had risen to 27.8 (p < 0.001) and the FSDS score had dropped to 11.3 (p < 0.001). No change was observed in the control group (p = NS).


CONCLUSIONS
The progressive reduction of the pain syndrome reported by women over the treatment period could contribute to improve the QoL and sexual life of women on DNG.
Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, Gynecological Clinic of the Policlinico Universitario, Via S.Sofia 78, 95124, Catania, Italy. scaruso@unict.it.|Research Group for Sexology, Catania, Italy. scaruso@unict.it.
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Caruso
Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, Gynecological Clinic of the Policlinico Universitario, Via S.Sofia 78, 95124, Catania, Italy.
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Iraci
Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, Gynecological Clinic of the Policlinico Universitario, Via S.Sofia 78, 95124, Catania, Italy.
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Cianci
Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, Gynecological Clinic of the Policlinico Universitario, Via S.Sofia 78, 95124, Catania, Italy.
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Casella
Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, Gynecological Clinic of the Policlinico Universitario, Via S.Sofia 78, 95124, Catania, Italy.
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Fava
Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, Gynecological Clinic of the Policlinico Universitario, Via S.Sofia 78, 95124, Catania, Italy.|Research Group for Sexology, Catania, Italy.
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Cianci
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D009277:Nandrolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009948:Orgasm / Q000187:drug effects*; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D006727:Hormone Antagonists; C023635:dienogest; D009277:Nandrolone
Chronic pelvic pain; Dienogest; Dyspareunia; Endometriosis; Quality of life; Sexual life