In a clinical research center at a university hospital, 41 patients with dysmenorrhea, nonmenstrual pelvic pain and dyspareunia associated with histologically proven endometriosis were included in an open, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Twenty-one women were assigned by computer-generated randomization to receive Implanon®, and 20 women to receive DMPA. As main outcome measures of this pilot study, we evaluated pain improvement quantified according to visual analog scale score, side effects, vaginal bleeding patterns, withdrawal rate and overall degree of satisfaction.
During a follow-up period of 1 year, we ascertained a clear improvement in pain intensity for both treatment options. After 6 months, the average decrease in pain was 68 % in the Implanon® group and 53 % in the DMPA group. The side-effects profile and the overall degree of satisfaction after study termination were comparable for both treatment options.
Concerning pain relief, the therapeutic efficacy of the contraceptive implant Implanon® is not inferior to that of DMPA in symptomatic endometriosis.