Abstract

In this interactive CME web-based activity, a faculty of experts describes the efficacy and limitations of available treatments for endometriosis with regard to pain relief, safety issues associated with available treatments for endometriosis, and potential benefits of new hormonal therapies in development for endometriosis (Online access: http://www.cmeelsevier.com/endometriosis/590 ). Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease of unknown etiology that frequently results in significant morbidity, severe pelvic pain, multiple surgeries, and impaired fertility. It affects at least 8.5 million women in North America alone and is a leading cause of gynecologic hospitalization and surgery. It is clinically defined as presence of ectopic or extrauterine endometrial or endometrial-like tissue resulting in a sustained inflammatory reaction. Although pharmacologic and surgical treatment options are available, endometriosis can be difficult to manage because many treatments have limited efficacy, while serious side effects of some agents limit long-term treatment or make them inappropriate for some patients. New hormonal agents are in late-stage development and will expand the available treatment options. This activity has been supported by an independent educational grant from AbbVie Inc.

Funding: This CME activity is supported by an independent grant from AbbVie Inc.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT: This activity is jointly provided by The Elsevier Office of Continuing Medical Education and Miller Medical Communications, LLC.

It is the policy of the Elsevier Office of Continuing Medical Education (EOCME) that all faculty, instructors, and planners disclose real or apparent conflicts of interest relating to the topics of this educational activity.

The faculty reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Adam Ofer, MD , is on the speaker’s bureau and is consultant/advisor for Myriad Genetics.

Lee P. Shulman, MD, is on the speaker’s bureau for Bayer, Merck, Pfizer, and Roche; is consultant/advisor for Bayer, Merck, Pfizer, Roche, Sequenom, Natera, and Ariosa.

Sukhbir Sony Singh, MD, FRCSC, FACOG, is on the speaker’s bureau for Actavis, Bayer, Abbvie, and Hologic; is consultant/advisor for Actavis, Bayer and Abbvie; received research grant support from Actavis, Bayer and Abbvie.

Planners, Managers and Reviewers: Sandy Breslow; Brynne Hunter; Lyerka Miller, PhD; and Bernard Abrams, MD hereby state that they or their spouse/life partner do not have any financial relationships to products or devices with any commercials interest related to the content of this activity of any amount during the past 12 months.