The effectiveness of danazol therapy in postmenopausal women affected by endometrial hyperplasia

Forty eight patients in postmenopause affected by histologically confirmed endometrial hyperplasia (34 with simplex and 14 with complex forms) were administered Danazol therapy, 400 mg/day for 3 consecutive months. At the end of treatment, regression of the endometrial hyperplasia was histologically ascertained in 46 patients (95.9%) with disappearance of the metrorrhagia. Endometrial atrophy was obtained in 75% of the cases, while secretive (14.7%) or proliferative (6.2%) aspects resulted in the others. Only 2 patients (4.1%) showed persistence of the hyperplastic endometrium. On the basis of this experience, treatment with Danazol appears to be effective and safe with only scarce and transient side effects. This therapy is therefore proposed as a valid alternative to progestogen therapy in cases of postmenopausal endometrial hyperplasia.