Progestins and medical treatment of endometriosis – Physiology, history and society

Abstract

The transitory effect of hormonal treatment is the alleged main reason to criticize progestins (PGS) and combined pills (OP) in the managment of endometriosis. To the contrary their poor efficacy in the long run is often underlined. As a result, medical treatment is too seldom advised in endometriosis. In this article, we shall focus on the analysis of the reasons of the paucity of the medical interest given to progestins, reasons, which are not of a scientific or objective nature. The ultimate aim of this analysis is to develop arguments in favour of continuous administration of hormones as to obtain not simply an anovulation but a state of prolonged amenorrhea much more efficacious than the simple suppression of ovulation too often advised. And, with an emphasis on the fundamental role of surgery in the treatment of endometriosis, to give the greatest consideration to the specific nature of this disease, which is a chronic disease, justifying the long duration of hormonal administration.

Keywords:

• Endometriosis
• progestins
• ovarian inhibition
• continuous treatment
• history of treatment

Acknowledgements

I would like to express my gratitude to Drs Jean-Paul Allart and Joelle Belaisch-Allart for their valuable advice in the redaction of this article.