[Indications for the therapeutic use of contraceptive steroids]

Therapeutic indications of contraceptive steroids are described. Menstrual cycle disturbances may benefit from the regularizing effects of combined or sequential contraceptives. Other gynecological conditions for which steroid hormone treatment may be indicated are: functional dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, endometriosis, and benign breast conditions. Seborrhea oleosa, acne, alopecia, and hirsutism may respond to steroid hormone treatment; neoplastic etiology and pregnancy must be eliminated before such treatment, however. Precocious puberty and pseudopuberty may also be treated with steroid hormones, which repress or inactivate body hormones responsible for the symptomatology. Estrogens are also used to limit the adult height of girls; this procedure must still be regarded as experimental.