Desogestrel‐only contraceptive pill versus sequential contraceptive vaginal ring in the treatment of rectovaginal endometriosis infiltrating the rectum: a prospective open‐label comparative study
Open accessAbstract
Objective: To compare the efficacy of two hormonal therapies in treating symptoms caused by bowel endometriosis. Design: Patient preference study. Setting: University hospital. Population: A total of 143 women with rectovaginal endometriosis infiltrating the rectum. Methods: This study was performed between January 2008 and June 2011. Patients were treated with a desogestrel‐only contraceptive pill or with the sequential combined contraceptive vaginal ring for 12 months. Main outcome measures: The primary endpoint of the study was the rate of satisfied patients at 12‐month follow up. The changes in symptoms and in the volume of the nodules were secondary endpoints. Results: At 12‐month follow up, the rate of satisfied patients was higher in the group treated with the desogestrel‐only contraceptive pill than in the group treated with the sequential combined contraceptive vaginal ring (p = 0.004). When only changes in gastrointestinal symptoms were considered, 50% of patients treated with the desogestrel‐only contraceptive pill and 31.3% of those treated with the sequential combined contraceptive vaginal ring were satisfied (p = 0.037). The reduction in the volume of the nodules, the percentages of patients who discontinued the therapy after the completion of the study and of those who decided to undergo surgery were similar between the two groups. Conclusions: Both hormonal therapies are efficacious in treating symptoms caused by rectovaginal endometriosis infiltrating the rectum. Patient satisfaction is higher with the desogestrel‐only pill than with a vaginal ring.
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At 12-month follow-up, the rate of satisfied patients was higher with desogestrel-only pill compared to sequential estro-progestin pill.
“At 12‐month follow up, the rate of satisfied patients was higher in those treated with the desogestrel‐only pill compared to those on sequential estro-progestin pill [229].”
From Hormonal treatments for endometriosis: The endocrine background (2022) · cites this paper as [229]
The Results report higher satisfaction at 12 months with desogestrel (61.7%) than with the sequential treatment (36.1%; p = 0.004). However, the Methods and Conclusion identify the comparator as a sequential combined contraceptive vaginal ring, not an estro-progestin pill. (LLM, conf=0.93)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredDSG treatment in women with symptomatic rectovaginal endometriosis reduces lesion volume and improves gastrointestinal symptoms, chronic pelvic pain, and deep dyspareunia.
“DSG treatment of women with symptomatic rectovaginal endometriosis induced volume size reduction and improvement of gastrointestinal symptoms, chronic pelvic pain, and deep dyspareunia.”
From Hormonal treatments for endometriosis: The endocrine background (2022) · cites this paper as [229]
In a patient preference trial of symptomatic rectovaginal endometriosis, satisfaction rate was higher with DSG-POP than vaginal ring (61.7% vs 36.1%), and gastrointestinal symptoms, chronic pelvic pain and deep dyspareunia improved more in DSG-POP group.
“At the end of the study, the rate of satisfied women was higher in the group treated with DSG-POP (61.7% vs. 36.1%).”
From Oral and depot progestin therapy for endometriosis: towards a personalized medicine (2017) · cites this paper as [44]
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- Authors
- Leone Roberti Maggiore, U., Remorgida, V., Scala, C., Tafi, E., Venturini, P. L., & Ferrero, S.
- Affiliations
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology San Martino Hospital and National Institute for Cancer Research University of Genoa Genoa Italy
- Ospedale Policlinico San Martino (IT)
- Venue
- Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2014-02-19
- Volume
- 93
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 239-247
- ISSN
- 0001-6349 (ISSN-L)
- 1600-0412
- OpenAlex
- W2152955646
- Cited by
- 80
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 3
- FWCI
- 7.65
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- CINECA IRIS Institutial Research Information System (University of Genoa) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Endometriosis Research and Treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Ectopic Pregnancy Diagnosis and Management
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Reproductive Health and Contraception
- Keywords
- rectovaginal endometriosis, bowel endometriosis, contraceptive vaginal ring, patient satisfaction, gastrointestinal symptoms, nodule volume
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Contraceptive Devices, Female, Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic, Drug Combinations, Endometriosis, Ethinyl Estradiol, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Prospective Studies, Rectal Diseases, Patient Satisfaction, Desogestrel
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