[Functional therapeutics: official subject in gynecology. New findings in gynecology. 22nd Brazilian Meeting on Gynecology and Obstetrics].

During the past 5 years, after a much longer period of studies and research, new methods of treatment for several gynecological disorders have been employed. Among such new methods the most important are: 1) the use of gonadotropin-releasing hormones as contraceptive agents, to diagnose cases of hypogonadism, or to cure amenorrhea. Gonadotropin-releasing hormones can be administered in several ways, provoke different reactions in different women, and are subject to several contraindications; 2) transphenoidal surgery for hypersecretory hypophysary tumors, or microsurgery of the hypophysis, which allows the identification of tumors smaller than 10mm, and which is used in the treatment of galactorrhea; 3) the use of ergot alkaloids derivates, such as bromocriptine or Lergotrile, to provoke menstruation and ovulation; 4) the clinical use of danazol in the treatment of endometriosis and in induction of ovulation; and 5) the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea by the use of synthetic inhibitors or by the use of prostaglandins.