EXPERIMENTAL ALTERATION OF THE HUMAN OVARIAN CYCLE BY ESTROGEN*

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Patients were treated with stilbestrol at different phases of the cycle to determine its effect on menstrual rhythm and endometrial histology. When a single 20-mg. dose of stilbestrol was given orally in the early prolifera-tive phase (4th to 10th day), length of the interval was increased to an avg. of 38 days (range 32-48 days in 14 trials). Twelve untreated cycles in these patients averaged 29 days in length (range 24-35 days). Six of the treated cases experienced a very scant vaginal bleeding for a few days starting about a week after receiving the estrogen. The endometrium remained in a proliferative phase until about 10 days before the onset of bleeding and then it exhibited the normal secretory changes. There was one exception, a cycle of 33 days, in which the endometrium did not exhibit any secretory changes, suggesting an anovulatory cycle. Under these conditions, a single large dose early in the cycle seems to delay ovulation about 9 days. Eight patients with dysmenorrhea were treated with oral stil-bestrol starting the day after the cessation of menstruation. The dosage was 1 mg. daily for 10 days, 2 mg. daily for the 2d 10 days, and 3 mg. daily for the 3d 10 days. With this regimen the patients were relieved of their dysmenorrhea for 3 successive months and endometrial biopsies indicated that all 3 cycles had been anovulatory. Under these conditions, a continuous and increasing dosage for 3 weeks, it is possible to suppress the luteal phase for as long as 3 successive months. When estrogen medication was started in the postovulatory phase of the cycle, 5 to 10 mg. of stilbestrol per day, there was no appreciable alteration of the luteal phase or any delay in the onset of menstruation. To date it has not been possible to prolong the life of the corpus luteum by estrogen therapy in the woman.