A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Dane Fukang Decoction and Gestrinone for Treatment of Endometriosis

Abstract

Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological condition influenced by hormones that frequently causes severe pelvic pain and other concerning symptoms such as heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding, painful intercourse, fatigue, nausea, and infertility. While surgery is often required, the rates of recurrence after surgery remain high. Objective. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the efficacy of Dane Fukang decoction and Gestrinone for treating endometriosis after surgery. A literature search was conducted in the primary electronic databases, with studies published from inception until January 2024. The analysis included in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared Dane Fukang decoction to Gestrinone for endometriosis treatment after surgery. Meta-analyses were conducted using random-effects models, calculating pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). A total of six RCTs involving 658 patients were included. The meta-analysis showed that Dane Fukang decoction significantly improved effectiveness compared to gestrinone treatments. The random effect model analysis yielded an odds ratio of 2.72 (95% CI: 1.13 to 6.54, p=0.05) with an I2 value of 56%, suggesting moderate heterogeneity among the included studies. No serious adverse events were reported with either intervention. This systematic review and meta-analysis provide evidence supporting the superior efficacy of Dane Fukang decoction over gestrinone as a post-operative treatment for endometriosis to improve overall clinical outcomes.