Adverse symptoms during short‐term use of ulipristal acetate in women with uterine myomas and/or adenomyosis

Abstract

Aim To evaluate various adverse symptoms during short‐term use of ulipristal acetate in women with uterine myomas (n = 90), adenomyosis (n = 3) or both (n = 7). Methods One hundred premenopausal women who received ulipristal acetate for 4–12 weeks during 2016 to 2017 were selected. The medical records were reviewed and the following information was collected; adverse symptoms during medication, presence of menorrhagia or menstrual cramps, blood hemoglobin and liver function test. Adverse symptoms were recorded in the medical records as a checklist form including 76 specific progestin‐related symptoms. Results Overall, the most frequent adverse symptom was amenorrhea (43%), followed by weight gain (29%), fatigue (27%), abdominal discomfort (21%), decreased menstrual flow (19%) and dizziness (18%). In 89 symptomatic women (with heavy menstrual bleeding and/or menstrual cramping pain and/or anemia), the most frequent adverse symptom was weight gain (27%) and fatigue (27%), followed by abdominal discomfort (21%), dry eye (18%), facial flushing (17%), dizziness (17%), headache (17%) and increased vaginal discharge (15%). Fourteen women stopped the medication due to unwanted adverse symptoms. Of this discontinuation group, major complaint was fatigue (50%), followed by weight gain (36%) and breast discomfort (35.7%). Conclusion Adverse symptoms were common and discontinuation rate was somewhat higher during short‐term course of ulipristal acetate. Information about incidence of various adverse symptoms should be given to women who willing to take ulipristal acetate.

Myomektomi uygulanan kadınlarda vücut kitle indeksi ile klinik parametreler arasındaki ilişkinin değerlendirilmesi

“…Uterine fibroids (UFs) are the most common neoplasms of the uterus and affect more than 70% of women of reproductive age (1). Of these women, 50 % of them are symptomatic and have complaints such as; vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, pressure sensation, severe anemia and urethral obstruction (2,3).…”

The Asian Society of Endometriosis and Adenomyosis guidelines for managing adenomyosis

“…No larger studies on pregnancy outcomes and only cases of pregnancy are reported after these procedures for adenomyosis. 35,36 At present, these techniques have, therefore, not been recommended for women with adenomyosis and a wish to conceive.…”

The Menstrual Endometrium: From Physiology to Future Treatments

“…Interestingly, UPA reduces AUB as effectively as the GnRH agonist Leuprorelin but without hypoestrogenic side effects ( 90 ). Some adverse effects associated with UPA treatment have been noted, such as weight gain and fatigue and recently potential concerns regarding negative liver effects have been highlighted ( 91 ).…”