Efficacy of melatonin in the treatment of endometriosis: A phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Melatonin reduced pain scores and analgesic use, and improved sleep quality in endometriosis-associated chronic pelvic pain. Melatonin modulates the secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor independently of its analgesic effect in endometriosis. Endometriosis-associated chronic pelvic pain (EACPP) presents with an intense inflammatory reaction. Melatonin has emerged as an important analgesic, antioxidant, and antiinflammatory agent. This trial investigates the effects of melatonin compared with a placebo on EACPP, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level, and sleep quality. Forty females, aged 18 to 45years, were randomized into the placebo (n=20) or melatonin (10mg) (n=20) treatment groups for a period of 8weeks. There was a significant interaction (time vs group) regarding the main outcomes of the pain scores as indexed by the visual analogue scale on daily pain, dysmenorrhea, dysuria, and dyschezia (analysis of variance, P