WEDNESDAY, March 30, 2005 (HealthDay News) -- Pfizer said it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for depo-subQ provera 104 (medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension) to treat pain associated with endometriosis. The condition, affecting an estimated one in 10 women of childbearing age, occurs when the endometrial tissue of the uterus travels and implants itself in other areas of the body, such as the fallopian tubes and ovaries.
Endometriosis is a leading cause of infertility, which affects up to 40 percent of women who have the condition, Pfizer said. Pelvic pain, notably during the menstrual cycle, is a primary symptom.
The new drug represents the first medication approved in 15 years to treat endometriosis pain, Pfizer said. It contains the same ingredients -- yet a different formulation -- as the birth control shot Depo-Provera, which was approved by the FDA in December 2004.
The drug should be widely available in the United States in May, the company said.
For more information about endometriosis, visit the National Women's Health Information Center.
