ARTIFICIAL INDUCTION OF HYPOOESTROGENIC AMENORRHEA WITH METHYLESTRENOLONE, OR WITH LYNESTRENOL

ABSTRACT Continuous treatment with 17α-methyl-19-nortestosterone (MNT) (5 – 2.5 – 1 mg daily) or 17α-ethinyl-17β-hydroxy-estr-4-en (Lynestrenol) (LNL) (5 – 2.5 mg daily), progestogenic norderivatives, can produce a state of prolonged amenorrhea with sterility (up to 30 months) in regularly menstruating women. The uterine mucosa tends to become progressively atrophic. The response of the vagina however varies according to the steroid employed. Only MNT is capable of producing an atrophic vaginal smear. This therapeutic hypo-oestrogenic amenorrhea seems highly beneficial to patients suffering from various gynaecological disorders, especially endometriosis and idiopathic menorrhagia with chronic iron deficiency. Prolonged administration of MNT frequently produces signs of masculinization. On the other hand LNL is totally devoid of this androgenic action, at least in the doses used. The disturbances consequent upon the treatment seem to disappear rapidly after the end of therapy.