Efficacy of postsurgical medical therapy for infertile patients with deep endometriosis

Though laparoscopic surgery is effective for the treatment of deep endometriosis (DE), postoperative management remains controversial. Dienogest therapy after surgery may improve spontaneous pregnancy rates and decrease the severity of dysmenorrhea in infertile patients with DE. To determine the efficacy of postsurgical therapy with dienogest for improving fertility and reducing the intensity of dysmenorrhea in infertile patients with DE.

This open label, randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 88 women aged 21-38 years with infertility who underwent surgery for DE. Three patients were lost to follow-up. After surgery, eligible patients were randomly divided into two groups. Forty-four patients who received dienogest for three months following surgery were enrolled in group 1. The remaining 41 patients comprised group 2 and did not receive any postsurgical treatment over the same period. The primary outcome measure was the pregnancy rate calculated nine months after surgery, while the mean intensity of dysmenorrhea was measured before and nine months after surgery.

The pregnancy rate in group 1 was significantly higher than in group 2 (47.7% vs 22%, p = 0.013) nine months following surgical intervention. Patients in group 1 exhibited a more statistically significant reduction in the mean score of dysmenorrhea intensity compared to group 2, from 8.7 to 2.8 vs 8.76 to 5.63, respectively (p < 0.001).

The use of dienogest as an add-on therapy for treating DE may show significantly higher effectiveness compared to surgical intervention alone for improving fertility and reducing the severity of dysmenorrhea.