Zupi 2005.

Study characteristics
Methods	Trial design: Randomised, controlled study
Participants	Participants: 150 women were randomised and analysed. Mean age:  Group A: 35.8 ± 5.1 Group B: 35.1 ± 4.8 Group C: 36.1 ± 5.3 Inclusion criteria: Women aged 20–43 years Regular menstrual cycles A history of symptomatic severe endometriosis diagnosed surgically according to the revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine classification Recurrence of the disease with pelvic pain, dysmenorrhoea, and dyspareunia Exclusion criteria: not stated Setting: Italy Timing: March 1, 2000 to February 28, 2003
Interventions	Group A: GnRH‐a plus add‐back therapy = leuprolide acetate (Enantone Depot 11.25 mg; Takeda, Rome, Italy) every 3 months for 12 months plus transdermal E2 (25 μg Esclima; Takeda) and daily oral norethindrone (5 mg Primolut‐Nor; Schering, Berlin, Germany) (n = 46) Group B:  GnRH‐a alone = leuprolide acetate (Enantone Depot 11.25 mg; Takeda) every 3 months for 12 months (n = 44) Group C: oestroprogestin alone = received oral ethinyl E2 (30 μg ) plus gestodene daily (0.75 mg Ginoden; Schering) for 12 consecutive months (n = 43)
Outcomes	Bone Mineral Density Quality of life  Health‐related satisfaction
Notes	Intention‐to‐treat analysis: not stated Sample size calculation: yes  Funding: not stated
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	"Randomized by means of a computer‐generated randomization number sequence"
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	No details of method used to conceal allocation were provided.
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	No details provided of blinding of participants or personnel
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	The VAS and SF‐36 were administered to the patients by a nurse who was blind to the study before treatment, after 6 and 12 months of therapy, and 6 months after discontinuation of treatment.
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	No losses to follow‐up
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	The study protocol was not available but it was clear that the published reports included all expected outcomes, including those that were prespecified.
Other bias	Low risk	No other risk of bias detected

ADI: additive diameter of implants score
AFS: American Fertility Society
AIDS: acquired immune deficiency syndrome
ASRM: American Society for Reproductive Medicine
BD: twice daily
BMD: bone mineral density
BMI: Body Mass Index
DMPA: Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate
DNG: dienogest
E²: oestradiol
ESS: Endometriosis symptom severity
FSH: Follicle‐Stimulating Hormone
GnRHa: Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Agonist
HRT: Hormone Replacement Therapy
Im: intramuscular
IN: intranasally
IVF: in vitro fertilization
LA: leuprolid acetate
LH: luteinizing hormone
LNG‐IUS: Levonorgestrel‐Intrauterine System
NSAID: Nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs
OC: oral contraceptive
OCP: oral contracteptive pill
Pap: Papanicolaou
PO: per os
PRL: prolactin
PTH: Parathyroid hormone
QID: four times a day
rAFS: revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine
SC: subcutaneously
SD: standard deviation
SEM: standard error of mean
SF‐36: Short Form Health Survey ‐ 36
T4: Thyroxine
TDS: three times daily
IU: intra‐uterine
VAS: Visual Analogue Scale
17β‐E²: 17β‐estradiol