Long-Term Results Of The Gnrh-Agonist Nafarefin Acetate For The Treatment Of Endometriosis

Purpose: We evaluated the long-term efficacy of nafarelin acetate (Synarela) for the treatment of endometriosis.Methods: Twenty-one patients with confirmed endometriosis who underwent three-phase treatment with nafarelin acetate in 1992 and 1993 were evaluated by interview and clinically after a median of 96 months. The median duration of endometriosis was 8.8 years. Recurrence was defined as reappearance of endometriosis-associated pain.Results: Eighteen women had recurrence. Fourteen women (78%) had recurrence within the first year and ten required treatment. 61% of patients reported significantly or moderately improved quality of life with treatment. Recurrence was not associated with the rAFS score. 50% of women with recurrence reported improvement of pain with treatment. Nine of 13 women desiring fertility had a total of 16 pregnancies with 12 deliveries. The spontaneous pregnancy rate was 87.5%.Conclusion: Treatment of endometriosis with nafarelin acetate was associated with high pregnancy rates but also with high rates of recurrent symptoms, particularly during the first year after treatment. Treatment was associated with improved quality of life.