OBJECTIVE:

To assess the long-term treatment of pelvic pain with levonorgestrel in women with endometriosis who wish to postpone pregnancy and preserve their fertility.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Ambispective study, with drug intervention, longitudinal and descriptive case series. Study parameters: measurement of pain intensity at 12, 24 and 36 months after placement of a single goserelin implant (Zoladex 10.6 mg, AstraZeneca AB, Gärtunavägen). At the return of menstruation, an intrauterine device containing levonorgestrel (Mirena Bayer AG, Leverkusen) was inserted. The intensity of pelvic pain was measured with the Numerical Pain Scale (NPS).

RESULTS:

Fourteen patients were studied of whom five reported pain: four with intensity 1 and one with intensity 3. The rest of the patients reported no pain. All patients reported subjective general relief at 12 months follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS:

Levonorgestrel administered intrauterine may be an alternative for the long-term pain-free treatment of patients with endometriosis who wish to postpone pregnancy. Controlled, randomized studies with a truly representative sample size are needed to confirm the findings.

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