Estrogen and progesterone receptors in endometriosis

BACKGROUND: This study aims to identify the presence of estrogen and progesterone hormone receptors in endometriosis implants and to determine whether hormone treatment influences the receptors in these implants.METHODS: Cross-sectional study with historical data collection. The analysis was conducted on 156 endometriosis implants from 67 patients undergoing endometriosis laparoscopy. The patients were divided into two groups: one group underwent hormone treatment (N.=20) and another group did not receive hormone treatment (N.=47) prior to surgery. Women of reproductive age with clinical pain and/or infertility who were diagnosed with endometriosis and underwent surgery were included. The specimens were analyzed after the estrogen and progesterone hormone receptors underwentRESULTS: All analyzed topographies presented estrogen and progesterone hormone receptors. Progesterone hormone receptor expression was considerably superior to estrogen receptor expression (P<0.001).CONCLUSIONS: Hormone receptors are present in endometriosis implants on the ovarian fossae, uterosacral ligaments, sac fundus, and ovaries. Progesterone receptors predominate in implants, regardless of hormonal treatment.(Cite this article as: Guimaraes Ferreira LR, Cavalcanti T, Zomer M, Kondo W, Araujo Junior E, Kulak Junior J. Estrogen and progesterone receptors in endometriosis. Minerva Obstet Gynecol 2022;74:330-6. DOI: 10.23736/S2724-606X.21.04888-0)