Danazol was widely used for medical suppression of endometriosis before newer agents became available. Its long-term use is currently limited chiefly because of which group of adverse effects?

• A Increased risk of venous thromboembolism
• B Androgenic side effects including weight gain, acne, hirsutism and voice deepening ✓
• C Severe bone mineral density loss
• D Hypertension and hyperkalaemia

Explanation

Danazol is an attenuated 17-alpha ethinyl testosterone derivative that suppresses LH and FSH surges, creating a hypoestrogenic environment, but it also retains intrinsic androgenic activity. Weight gain, acne, oily skin, hirsutism, decreased breast size and deepening of voice are common, and the vocal changes may be irreversible, which is the principal reason it fell out of favour. Thromboembolic risk is a concern with estrogens, bone loss with GnRH agonists, and hypertension with danazol is minor by comparison.

Reference: Williams Gynecology, 4th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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