[Endometrial hyperplasias resistant to progestins: alternatives to traditional treatments]

Endometrial hyperplasias are mainly regarded as a response to unopposed endogenous estrogenic stimulation and concern 12% of perimenopausal women. They are usually diagnosed because of irregular bleeding. They are divided into two categories based on the presence or absence of cytological atypia and further classified as simple or complex according to the extent of architectural abnormalities. Endometrial hyperplasias with cytological atypia are classically treated by hysterectomy. Endometrial hyperplasias without cytological atypia are classically treated by progestins. The bad observance (25% spontaneously stopping), the 30% recurrence rate after stopping progestin and the 12-53% resistance rate to treatment lead to propose a second-line therapy after endocrinological check-up, exploration of haemostasis, pelvic ultrasonography, hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsies. Standard treatments include uterine curettage which is not very effective and hysterectomy. Medical alternatives (gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device) and surgical alternatives (endometrial resection, thermal balloon endometrial ablation) were developed to avoid treating functional pathology radically. These conservative procedures correct 80% of endometrial hyperplasia symptoms with a low rate of lateral effects. However, these results need to be confirmed by long-term studies. Some economical, legal or material factors can also limit carrying out the procedures. Clinical trials need to be performed to better define the place of medical and surgical alternatives to hysterectomy in the treatment of endometrial hyperplasias resistant to progestins.