Muñoz-Hernando, LeticiaMuñoz-Gonzalez, Jose LMarqueta-Marques, LauraAlvarez-Conejo, CarmenTejerizo-García, ÁlvaroLopez-Gonzalez, GregorioVillegas-Muñoz, EmiliaMartin-Jimenez, AngelJiménez-López, Jesús S2016-03-022016-03-022015-06-11Muñoz-Hernando L, Muñoz-Gonzalez JL, Marqueta-Marques L, Alvarez-Conejo C, Tejerizo-García Á, Lopez-Gonzalez G, et al. Endometriosis: alternative methods of medical treatment. Int J Womens Health. 2015; 7:595-603http://hdl.handle.net/10668/2143Journal Article;Endometriosis is an inflammatory estrogen-dependent disease defined by the presence of endometrial glands and stroma at extrauterine sites. The main purpose of endometriosis management is alleviating pain associated to the disease. This can be achieved surgically or medically, although in most women a combination of both treatments is required. Long-term medical treatment is usually needed in most women. Unfortunately, in most cases, pain symptoms recur between 6 months and 12 months once treatment is stopped. The authors conducted a literature search for English original articles, related to new medical treatments of endometriosis in humans, including articles published in PubMed, Medline, and the Cochrane Library. Keywords included "endometriosis" matched with "medical treatment", "new treatment", "GnRH antagonists", "Aromatase inhibitors", "selective progesterone receptor modulators", "anti-TNF α", and "anti-angiogenic factors". Hormonal treatments currently available are effective in the relief of pain associated to endometriosis. Among new hormonal drugs, association to aromatase inhibitors could be effective in the treatment of women who do not respond to conventional therapies. GnRH antagonists are expected to be as effective as GnRH agonists, but with easier administration (oral). There is a need to find effective treatments that do not block the ovarian function. For this purpose, antiangiogenic factors could be important components of endometriosis therapy in the future. Upcoming researches and controlled clinical trials should focus on these drugs.enPharmacological treatment optionsAromatase inhibitorsGnRH antagonistsSelective progesterone receptor modulatorsAnti-TNF-αEndometrial tissueAntiangiogenic factorsHormonal treatmentsInductores de la angiogénesisInhibidores de la aromatasaEndometriosisEstrógenosFemeninoHormona liberadora de gonadotropinasDolorResultado del tratamientoMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications::Female Urogenital Diseases::Genital Diseases, Female::EndometriosisMedical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Chemical Actions and Uses::Pharmacologic Actions::Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action::Enzyme Inhibitors::Aromatase InhibitorsMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications::Female Urogenital Diseases::Genital Diseases, Female::EndometriosisMedical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Chemical Actions and Uses::Pharmacologic Actions::Physiological Effects of Drugs::Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists::Hormones::EstrogensMedical Subject Headings::Check Tags::FemaleMedical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists::Hormones::Peptide Hormones::Hypothalamic Hormones::Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones::Gonadotropin-Releasing HormoneMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::HumansMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms::Signs and Symptoms::PainMedical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Pharmaceutical PreparationsMedical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins::Proteins::Transcription Factors::Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear::Receptors, Steroid::Receptors, ProgesteroneMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Diagnosis::Prognosis::Treatment Outcomeresearch article26089705open access10.2147/IJWH.S788291179-1411PMC4468987