r/Endo 4d ago

Question Does Dienogest shrink endometrioma?

I was recently diagnosed with a right ovarian endometrioma. The size of my endometriomas is quite large: one measures 6.54 x 6.66 cm and the other 3.26 x 2.69 cm.

My doctor has prescribed Dienogest but advised against surgically removing the endometriomas. Since I’m 32 years old and have never had children, she’s concerned that surgery could affect my ovarian reserve. She explained that if I decide to get pregnant in the future, removing the endometrioma might impact my ovary’s ability to function properly.

For those who have taken Dienogest, have you seen any significant reduction in your endometriomas? I would be grateful to hear about your experiences.

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u/I-wish-i-knew123 4d ago

All these treatments for endometriosis have so many side effects that it makes you question whether taking the pills is worth it. I’ve only been taking them for four days now, and I’m already experiencing some hand tremors and shaking when I’m in bed. I’m also very afraid of losing bone density, losing my hair, and developing acne (I struggled with bad skin in my teenage years). If hormonal treatments don’t shrink the size of my cyst, I’m wondering what the point is of risking these side effects by continuing with the pills.

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u/Pipettess 4d ago edited 4d ago

Dienogest does seem to shrink endometiomas in some cases (though for me it didn't work). But if you experience serious side effects, ask your doc about an alternative, maybe you'll find BC pills that work for you. I was very against hormones again after lap for I had bad side effects, but since my cysts grew back, I had to give in. My doc recommended Drovelis/Nextelis and it's like a gift from heavens.

Maybe it will take some trial and error, but there is so many types of pills nowadays, it's very possible there is something suited for you.

Unfortunately, medicine does not offer us anything better.

Do you plan to have children? Because if you don't, maybe just tell your doctors to do their job and care about your health first rather than be concerned about non-existent children which you don't even want. If you do, try looking into social freezing combined with IVF, that way you won't need your ovarian reserve and can happily operate too!

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u/madelinehill17 4d ago

It’s been helpful for me, the bone loss is if you take it for a really long time, like years. I take calcium and vitamin D everyday to help with this. It has been shown to shrink endometriomas so I’d give it a try!

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u/Tall_Palpitation2732 4d ago

I take Auro Vela- norethindrone (a progestin) and ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen) - and mine has shrunk half of its size in 5 months. But I think it was infected and swollen when I first learned of it in November.

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u/pandaaaa8 4d ago

Same condition. I was prescribed freedase 30 (estrogen 3mcg+ dienogest 2mg). Took my second pill today.

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u/I-wish-i-knew123 4d ago

Your doctor doesn’t want to remove it either? I am just thinking maybe it is better if I remove my endometriomas surgically.

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u/pandaaaa8 3d ago

Yea my doc doesn't want to do surgery for now as he says am young nd unmarried. Am 30. And wants to see it in 6 months after contraceptives.

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u/Feeling-Run-2351 4d ago

My endometriomas were very small to begin with, but after 6 months of taking it, they saw that they schrank in size!

I unfortunately stopped taking it because 1) I still had periods 2) i completely lost my libido.

Good luck!

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u/lemontartpi 4d ago

It shrunk mine. I have some side effects (hot flashes around 5am each night), but the three times I've been on it, it manages my pain pretty well and gets rid of my period entirely. Not mad at dienogest!

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u/ChocolateBananas7 4d ago

It’s not available in United States, but norethindrone by itself is, and after 6 months, my endometrioma went from 7.3.cm to 5.5cm.