Table I.
Study characteristics.
| Study | Design | Phenotype | Surgical procedure | Intervention | Control | Mean follow-up (months) | Primary outcome (recurrence) | Secondary outcome (pain) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angioni et al. (2015) | RCT | DIE | EE | Triptorelin 3.75 mg IM monthly × 6 months (n = 80) | Expectant (n = 79) | 12 | N/A | SF-36 *Cumulative Pain Scores and QoL |
| Campo et al. (2014) | Prospective Cohort | OE | Cystectomy | GnRH-a NOS monthly × 6 months (n = 46) | Expectant (n = 102) | 30 | TVUS endometrioma measuring ≥ 2cm | N/A |
| Cucinella et al. (2013) | Prospective Cohort | OE | Cystectomy | Cyclic OCP daily (monophasic n = 87, multiphasic n = 43) | Expectant (n = 38) | 24 | TVUS endometrioma measuring ≥ 2 cm | N/A |
| Dobrokhotova et al. (2017) | Prospective Cohort | NOS | EE and Cystectomy | Dienogest 2 mg PO daily × 6 months (n = 12) | Expectant (n = 9) | 12 | N/A | Dysmenorrhea by 10-point VAS |
| Hornstein et al. (1997) | RCT | NOS | ‘Reductive surgery’ | Nafarelin 200 mcg IN BID × 6 months (n = 49) | Placebo IN BID × 6 months (n = 44) | 24 | Time to initiation of alternative therapy | Cumulative Pain Score: 15-point B+B scale |
| Huang et al. (2018) | RCT | NOS | EE and Cystectomy | GnRH-a NOS IM q 28d × 4-6 months (n = 50) | Expectant (n = 50) | 12 | Recurrence of pain or pelvic mass on TVUS | Pain Relief Rates by 11 point NRS |
| Muzii et al. (2000) | RCT | OE | Cystectomy | Cyclic Monophasic OCP × 6 months (n = 33) | Expectant (n = 35) | 22 | TVUS endometrioma, with confirmatory laparoscopy | Incidence of non-specific pain graded ≥4 on a 10-point visual analog scale. |
| Seracchioli et al. (2010) | RCT | OE | Cystectomy | Monophasic OCP A: Continuous × 24 months (n = 73) B: Cyclic × 24 months (n = 75) | Expectant (n = 69 ) | 24 | TVUS endometrioma measuring ≥ 1.5 cm | N/A |
| Sesti et al. (2009) | RCT | OE | Cystectomy | A:Triptorelin/ Leuprorelin 3.75mg IM q 28d × 6 mo (n = 58) B: Continuous Monophasic OCP × 6 mo (n = 60) C: Dietary Therapy (vitamins etc.) × 6 mo (n = 62) | Placebo (n = 60) | 18 | TVUS endometrioma measuring ≥ 2.0cm, subsequent confirmatory laparoscopy | N/A |
| Sesti et al. (2007) | RCT | rAFS Stage 3/4 | EE | A:Triptorelin/ Leuprolide 3.75 mg IM monthly × 6 months (n = 39) B: Continuous Monophasic OPC × 6 mo (n = 38) C: Dietary Therapy (vitamins etc.) × 6 mo (n = 35) | Placebo (n = 110) | 12 | N/A | Dysmenorrhea by 10-point VAS |
| Takaesu et al. (2016) | RCT | NOS | EE and Cystectomy | A: Dienogest 2mg PO daily × 6 months (n = 54) B: Goserelin 1.8mg SC monthly × 6 months (n = 51) | Expectant (n = 79) | 24 | MRI endometriosis lesions | Dysmenorrhea by 10-point VAS |
| Tanmahasamut et al. (2012) | RCT | NOS | EE and Cystectomy | Levonorgestrel IUD (n = 28) | Expectant (n = 26) | 12 | N/A | Dysmenorrhea by 10-point VAS |
| Vercellini et al. (1999) | RCT | AFS score ≥ 4 | ‘Conservative Surgery’ | Goserelin 3.6 mg SC monthly × 6 months (n = 107) | Expectant (n = 103) | 24 | Total pain recurrence defined by B+B score ≥ 5 after surgery | N/A |
| Vercellini et al. (2008) | Prospective Cohort | OE | Cystectomy | Cyclic monophasic OCP (n = 102) | Expectant (n = 46) | 28 | TVUS endometrioma measuring ≥ 2 cm | N/A |
| Vercellini et al. (2003b) | RCT | AFS 1-4 | EE | Levonorgestrel IUD (n = 20) | Expectant (n = 20) | 12 | N/A | Dysmenorrhea by 10-point VAS |
| Yang et al. (2006) | RCT | ASRM Stage 3/4 | ‘Conservative Surgery’ | Gestrinone 2.5mg twice weekly × 6 mo (n = 19) Traditional Chinese Medicine (n = 20) | Expectant (n = 13) | 12 - 36 | TVUS endometrioma, progressive pelvic pain | N/A |
| Yang et al. (2019) | RCT | NOS | EE and Cystectomy | Triptorelin 3.75 mg IM q 28 d × 6 mo (n = 65) | Expectant (n = 65) | 21 | NOS | N/A |
AFS, American Fertility Society; ASRM, American Society of Reproductive Medicine; B + B, Biberoglu and Behrman; DIE, deeply infiltrating endometriosis; EE, endometriosis excision; EE2, ethinyl oestradiol; IN, intra-nasal; IUD, intra-uterine device; mo, months; N/A, not applicable; NOS, not otherwise specified; NRS, numeric rating score; OCP, oral contraceptive pill; OE, ovarian endometrioma; QoL, Quality of life; rAFS, revised AFS; RCT, randomised controlled trial; SIE, superficially infiltrating endometriosis; TVUS, transvaginal ultrasound; VAS, visual analogue scale.