Comparison 12. GnRHas versus GnRHas (route of administration) ‐ all studies included.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
12.1 Relief of overall pain ‐ IN versus SC ‐ dichotomous	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
12.1.1 Pelvic pain ‐ 6 months	1	5	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.00 [0.53, 1.87]
12.1.2 Dysmenorrhoea ‐ 6 months	1	10	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.22 [0.73, 2.06]
12.1.3 Dyspareunia ‐ 6 months	1	7	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.00 [0.57, 1.75]
12.1.4 Pelvic induration ‐ 6 months	1	8	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.86 [0.47, 1.55]
12.1.5 Pelvic tenderness ‐ 6 months	1	10	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.50 [0.69, 3.27]
12.2 Relief of overall pain ‐ IN versus IM ‐ dichotomous	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
12.2.1 Pelvic pain ‐ 6 months	1	192	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.96 [0.73, 1.26]
12.2.2 Dysmenorrhoea ‐ 6 months	1	192	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.29 [0.72, 2.30]
12.2.3 Dyspareunia ‐ 6 months	1	166	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.88 [0.62, 1.25]
12.2.4 Pelvic induration ‐ 6 months	1	190	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.41 [0.82, 2.41]
12.2.5 Pelvic tenderness ‐ 6 months	1	192	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.23 [0.88, 1.73]
12.3 Adverse effects ‐ IN vs SC ‐ dichotomous	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
12.3.1 Hot flushes/flashes ‐ 6 months	1	13	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.86 [0.48, 1.55]
12.3.2 Vaginal dryness ‐ 6 months	1	13	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.86 [0.17, 4.37]
12.3.3 Decreased libido ‐ 6 months	1	13	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.86 [0.07, 10.96]
12.3.4 Headaches ‐ 6 months	1	13	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.71 [0.20, 14.55]
12.4 Adverse effects ‐ IN versus IM depot ‐ dichotomous	2		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
12.4.1 Hot flushes/flashes ‐ 6 months	2	404	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.95 [0.88, 1.02]
12.4.2 Headache ‐ 6 months	1	213	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.83 [0.63, 1.10]
12.4.3 Sweating ‐ 6 months	1	213	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.13 [0.71, 1.79]
12.4.4 Vaginal dryness ‐ 6 months	1	213	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.52 [0.27, 1.00]
12.4.5 Vaginal bleeding ‐ 6 months	1	213	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	19.19 [1.12, 328.28]
12.5 Bone mineral density of spinal bone mass ‐ IN vs IM depot ‐ continuous	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
12.5.1 Percentage decrease of BMD ‐ 6 months	1	152	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐2.00 [‐2.10, ‐1.90]