TREATMENTS FOR ENDOMETRIOSIS: DRUG THERAPIES
Despite a considerable amount of energy, ingenuity and research in recent years, the cause of endometriosis remains shrouded in mystery. This has undoubtedly slowed progress in developing effective treatments.
Drugs such as danazol, progestogens and GnRH agonists are capable of shrinking endometriosis tissue. They work by blocking the action of oestrogen which seems to be an essential ingredient in endometriosis growth. While these drug therapies are not capable of eliminating severe endometriosis, they are often used in the lead-up to surgical, electrical or laser treatment in the hope of making the removal of endometriosis tissue safer and more effective. Many doctors prefer not to prescribe danazol, progestogens at low dose, or GnRH agonists for longer than six months because of side-effects such as weight gain, breast tenderness, depression, nausea and hot flushes. There is also little information about the effects of long-term usage but what we do know gives cause for concern. For example, danazol has adverse effects on blood fats and GnRH agonists cause loss of calcium from bones. For some women, high daily doses of progestogens cause few problems and this therapy maybe recommended when endometriosis recurs after other attempts to remove it.
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