HOBOKEN, N.J.Pycnogenol®, an antioxidant plant extract, may significantly minimize pain and inflammation associated with endometriosis when paired with oral contraceptives, according to a new study published in International Journal of Womens Health.

Researchers at the Brazilian Instituto da Mulher and Itaigara Memorial Day Hospital conducted a study to investigate the effects of Pycnogenol on pain scores in patients with endometriosis who used oral contraceptives containing either gestodene or drospirenone in extended regimens. Researchers treated and monitored 45 patients between the ages of 22 and 37 years who were diagnosed with endometriosis. Participants were randomly divided into four treatment groups and evaluated before treatment began and after three months of treatment. Of the four groups, two took only an oral contraceptive and two took an oral contraceptives with 100 mg of Pycnogenol.

The researchers found that oral contraceptives alone decreased menstrual related pain; however, the addition of Pycnogenol significantly reduced pain when taken with oral contraceptives and increased the efficacy of the oral contraceptives for pain treatment. Fifty-six percent of the patients taking Pycnogenol reported complete pain resolution, while none of the patients taking an oral contraceptive alone reported full pain resolution.

In January, a different study published in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness found Pycnogenol , may significantly improve physical fitness and reduce oxidative stress and muscular pain in recreational athletes and triathletes.