Progestins
- progesterone- like drugs, can be injected or taken as a pill
- reduce the extent of the endometriosis
- not effective in improving fertility
- side effects: abnormal uterine bleeding, nausea, breast tenderness, fluid retention, depression
- side effects resolve after medication is stopped
- most common progestin is medroxyprogesterone
- other progestins used include megestrol acetate and norethindrone acetate
- used most with women who have already had children because ovarian function can take up to a year or even longer to return to normal after a course of therapy (Begany, 1997)