Comparison of Letrozole versus Danazole for Pain Management in Females Presenting with Endometriosis
Keywords:
Letrozole, Danazol, Endometriosis, Pain.Abstract
Background: Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological condition defined by the ectopic presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity, most commonly diagnosed via laparoscopy. While its exact etiology remains uncertain, a positive family history is considered a significant risk factor. Danazol has historically demonstrated efficacy in alleviating endometriosis-related pain, while letrozole, primarily used in neoadjuvant settings, has recently emerged as a promising alternative. This study aimed to compare the mean reduction in pain scores between letrozole and danazol in women with laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis.
Objective: To compare the efficacy of letrozole versus danazol in reducing pain scores among women diagnosed with endometriosis.
Material & Methods: A randomized control trial was conducted at Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Sharif Medical and Dental Hospital for the duration of 2.5 years, from April 2019 to October 2021. This randomized controlled trial included 60 women with endometriosis, allocated randomly and equally into two groups (n=30 each). After obtaining informed consent and recording baseline demographics, pain scores were assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Group A received letrozole (2.5 mg/day) starting on the third day of the menstrual cycle for three months, while Group B received danazol (600 mg/day) for the same duration. Pain scores were re-evaluated at three months, and the mean change was compared between the groups.
Results: Baseline pain scores were comparable between the letrozole (6.20±1.60) and danazol (6.40±1.10) groups (p=0.576). After three months, the mean reduction in pain scores was significantly greater in the letrozole group (2.20±1.45) than in the danazol group (1.27±1.11) (p=0.007).
Conclusion: Letrozole was significantly more effective than danazol in reducing endometriosis-associated pain after three months of treatment.
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