Dysmenorrhea associated with endometriosis in adolescents: Is there a therapy? A review

Endometriosis is now recognized as a significant issue in the global health system. According to the available data, endometriosis affects women not only of reproductive age, but also other age cohorts. Recent studies demonstrate that the clinical manifestation of the disease is present in absolute prevalence long before adulthood. Dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain often begin in adolescence, negatively affecting learning, daily activities, and interpersonal relationships. In addition, adolescent patients have several not only medical, but also social characteristics, which require adjustments to the clinical management of endometriosis. Underestimation of the severity of disease symptoms in adolescents leads to a significant progression of severe forms with a negative impact on fertility. The article discusses the characteristics of the clinical course of adolescent endometriosis and outlines the management of patients in accordance with current Russian and international guidelines. Given the diverse symptoms of endometriosis and the high prevalence of other pain syndromes in adolescents, it is recommended to use a multidisciplinary approach to treatment whenever possible; in particular, it should involve a pediatrician, algologists, and medical psychologists, in order to reduce pain sensitivity and eliminate concomitant mood disorders. In the pharmacological arsenal, there is an option for effective treatment of adolescent endometriosis − a combined oral contraceptive based on ethinyl estradiol and dienogest, which effectively suppresses the pathogenetic cascade of endometriosis, relieves clinical symptoms, and improves the quality of life for patients in this cohort.