To evaluate the effectiveness of various pharmacological treatments for endometriosis, including hormonal and non-hormonal interventions, focusing on clinical and hormonal outcomes.
Key Findings:
COCs and progestins significantly reduced pelvic pain and menstrual irregularities (SMD -0.35 to -0.58, 95% CI, p<0.05).
Dienogest was the most effective for dysmenorrhea (SMD -0.58, 95% CI, p<0.001).
LNG-IUS linked to less menorrhagia and lower recurrence post-surgery (RR 0.51, 95% CI, p=0.002).
Adjunctive therapies like antioxidants and digital therapeutics provided additional pain relief (SMD -0.40 to -0.62, 95% CI, p<0.05).
Interpretation:
Hormonal therapies are effective in managing endometriosis symptoms, and treatment should be tailored to individual patient characteristics for optimal outcomes, emphasizing the need for personalized approaches.
Limitations:
Variability in trial quality and methodologies, such as differences in sample sizes and outcome measures.
Limited long-term data on some treatments, which may affect the generalizability of findings.
Conclusion:
Endometriosis can be effectively managed with hormonal therapies, and treatment should be personalized based on patient needs and tolerability, highlighting the necessity for ongoing research in this area.
