Treatment of ovarian endometriomata with subcutaneous implants of ST-1435 (Elcometrine) - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia

Purpose: evaluation of the effect of elcometrine on ovarian endometriomata. Method: subdermal implants containing 50 mg elcometrine were inserted in 51 women with ovarian endometriomata, the volumes of which were recorded by vaginal sonography before and after each three-month interval of treatment. A new implant was inserted every 6 months according to the need for continuing treatment. Results: at admission, 74% of patients presented with dysmenorrhea, 57% chronic pelvic pain and 31% dyspareunia. Pain was rated as severe or incapacitating by 82% of the subjects. A total of 924 months of observation was recorded during the four years of study. Relief of pain was observed during the first month of treatment and severe or incapacitating pain was no longer reported by any subject by the end of the first trimester. Volume of endometriomata was reduced in 86% of the patients. In 45%, ovarian volume was restored to normal. In 41% the volume reduction was incomplete and in 14% there was no volume reduction. Seventy-seven percent presented amenorrhea during treatment. The most common adverse events were decreased libido (21%) and feeling of heaviness in lower limbs (14%). One year after discontinuation of treatment, 33% of the patients were symptomless, while 28% presented recurrence of the endometriomata before 3 months post-discontinuation. Thirty-nine percent of the patients preferred to continue using the method in order to maintain amenorrhea. Conclusion: elcometrine is effective in reducing ovarian endometriomata, without some of the side effects of other treatments.