Treatment of endometriosis with cyproterone acetate. Preliminary report

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of cyproterone acetate for the treatment of endometriosis. Seven patients with dysmenorrhea due to endometriosis and idiopathic hirsutism were included. Endometriosis was laparoscopically classified as minimal in two cases, mild in two, moderate in two and severe in one patient. Cyproterone acetate was initiated at a daily dose of 10 mg orally for 20 days, followed by 10 days without medication. This sequence was repeated over a period of 6 months. Dysmenorrhea improved in all study subjects. Menstrual disorders were observed in all women, with oligomenorrhea in six patients and spotting in one. At the end of treatment, a second look laparascopy revealed minimal endometriosis in five patients and no evidence of the disease in the other two cases. Hirsutism was slightly reduced in two patients and without changes in the other five. These preliminary data disclose the possible therapeutic use of cyproterone acetate in endometriosis.