Comparison 2. GnRHas versus placebo ‐ all studies included.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
2.1 Relief of overall pain ‐ dichotomous	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
2.1.1 Dyspareunia ‐ 6 months	1	49	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.28 [0.09, 0.89]
2.1.2 Dyschezia/ bowel pressure ‐ 6 months	1	49	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.26 [0.03, 2.17]
2.1.3 Pelvic tenderness ‐ 6 months	1	49	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.22 [0.09, 0.55]
2.2 Relief of overall pain ‐ dichotomous ‐ decrease of pain	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
2.2.1 Decreases in pelvic pain scores ‐ 3 months	1	87	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.14 [1.41, 3.24]
2.2.2 Decreases in dysmenorrhoea scores ‐ 3 months	1	85	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.25 [1.59, 3.16]
2.2.3 Decreases in dyspareunia scores ‐ 3 months	1	59	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.21 [1.39, 3.54]
2.2.4 Decreases in pelvic tenderness scores ‐ 3 months	1	85	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.28 [1.48, 3.50]
2.2.5 Decreases in pelvic induration scores ‐ 3 months	1	81	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.07 [0.64, 1.79]
2.3 Relief of overall pain ‐ continuous	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
2.3.1 Decrease of overall pain by Severity scale mean scores ‐ 1 month	1	120	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.90 [2.80, 3.00]
2.4 Adverse effects ‐ dichotomous	3		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
2.4.1 Hot flushes/flashes ‐ 3 months	1	100	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	3.08 [1.89, 5.01]
2.4.2 Vasodilatation ‐ 6 months	1	63	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.69 [1.51, 4.81]
2.4.3 Headache‐ 6 months	1	63	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	3.55 [1.09, 11.53]
2.4.4 Hot flushes/flashes ‐ 12 months	1	49	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.62 [0.87, 3.02]
2.4.5 Sleep disturbances ‐ 12 months	1	49	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.31 [1.33, 4.02]
2.5 Quality of life ‐ continuous	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
2.5.1 Physical component ‐ 1 month	1	120	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.46 [‐0.48, ‐0.44]
2.5.2 Mental component ‐ 1 month	1	120	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.46 [‐0.48, ‐0.44]