Clinical and biochemical experiences with danazol in the treatment of endometriosis in cases with female infertility.

Based on "second look" pelviscopic control in 438 cases of pelvic endometrosis, additional hormonal antigonadotrophin therapy with danazol represents the most effective treatment for endometriosis. The rationale is well explained by Dmowski and Scommegna (1976). As endocrine treatment alone cannot control severe cases of endometriosis, in recent years a combined 3-step surgical-endocrine-surgical therapy, with thermocoagulation of endometriotic foci, cyst wall resection of endometriomas and consecutive thermocoagulation has proved to be the optimal therapy for endometriosis in general and especially in cases of sterilty. While additional progestogen therapy resulted in a 60% rate of remission of the symptoms of endometriosis, danazol gave a 90% success rate in the 3-step therapy. This 3-step therapy avoids many cases of radical surgery during the reproductive age in women with endometriosis. The pregnancy rate of 312 patients treated between 1976 and 1978 with danazol amounted to 45% compared with a pregnancy rate of 32% treated with lynestrenol and laparoscopy.