Abstract
Background:Women with endometriosis have a lower quality of life (QoL) than those without the disease. Treatment should therefore aim not only to improve symptoms but also to enhance overall QoL.
Objective:To evaluate QoL in patients with dysmenorrhea and ultrasound suspicion of endometriosis after starting nomegestrol acetate 2.5 mg plus 17β-estradiol 1.5 mg (NOMAC/E₂) in an extended regimen.
Methods:Prospective cohort pilot study evaluating changes in QoL in women with ultrasound-suspected endometriosis treated with NOMAC/E₂ for dysmenorrhea. QoL was assessed using the EuroQol-5D questionnaire, including the EQ-5D index and the visual numeric scale (EQ-VAS). Changes after initiating treatment were analyzed using a repeated-measures general linear model and confirmed with the Wilcoxon test.
Results:Fourteen patients were included (mean ± SD age 36.6 ± 7.4 years). Significant improvements were observed in QoL after starting treatment. The EQ-5D increased from 0.65 ± 0.22 at baseline to 0.86 ± 0.11 at 6 months and 0.93 ± 0.07 at 12 months (p<0.001). The EQ-VAS index increased from 78.4 ± 12.7 points at baseline to 89.2 ± 9.7 points at 6 months and 94.4 ± 4.0 points at 12 months (p<0.001).
Conclusions:Continuous treatment with NOMAC/E₂ in women with dysmenorrhea and ultrasound suspicion of endometriosis may significantly improve QoL as measured with the EQ-5D questionnaire.
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