epimestrol and Oligomenorrhea

The effects of epimestrol (5 mg every 6 hours for 5 days) on basal levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (Prl), estradiol, progesterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and on the response to LH-releasing hormone (LH-RH) and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation, were studied in 18 cases of secondary amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea of hypothalamic-pituitary origin, in three cases of anorexia nervosa, in two cases of long-lasting progestin-induced amenorrhea, and in one case of precocious menopause. The results in the first 18 patients indicate that epimestrol treatment induces a significant increase in LH and Prl levels after 24 hours, while the FSH increase becomes significant only after 4 days of therapy. Twelve hours after discontinuation of treatment, all three hormone levels decreased significantly to values similar to the basal levels, while the pituitary response to LH-RH indicated a much more marked LH secretion than before treatment. A second test, performed 36 hours after the last drug administration, again showed a significantly higher LH response than that found under basal conditions. No significant variations were observed in the FSH response to LH-RH, nor in the Prl response to TRH. These data suggest that epimestrol interferes at the level of the centers responsible for Prl and gonadotropin secretion in the manner of a weak estrogen.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Amenorrhea; Anorexia Nervosa; Dehydroepiandrosterone; Epimestrol; Estradiol; Estrenes; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Gonadotropins, Pituitary; Humans; Luteinizing Hormone; Menstruation Disturbances; Oligomenorrhea; Progesterone; Prolactin; Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone

155 patients have been treated with epimestrol during 593 menstrual cycles in a daily dosage of 5, 10 or 2.5 mg from the 1st to the 10th or from the 5th to the 14th day of the cycle. 143 patients with secondary amenorrhoea, anovulatory cycles, ovulatory oligomenorrhoea, corpus luteum insufficiency, and normal cycles received epimestrol after an average period of 2.4 years of involuntary infertility. The pregnancy rate was 21% (n = 30), the spontaneous abortion rate 13% (n = 4). Twelve further patients not seeking pregnancy were treated with epimestrol because of secondary amenorrhoea and (or) anovulatory bleeding. The results were as follows: 1) In eugonadotropic secondary amenorrhoea 8 out of 12 patients ovulated, 5 out of 10 patients wanting children became pregnant. No patient with hypogonadotropism ovulated. 2) Out of 25 patients with anovulatory cycles or bleeding 13 ovulated and 4 became pregnant. 3) 17 out of 68 oligomenorrhoeic patients became pregnant. 4) In 12 out of 24 patients with corpus luteum insufficiency the hyperthermic phase improved and four patients became pregnant. 5) In 12 patients without anomalous cycles these remained unchanged and there were no pregnancies. 6) No side effects could be observed.. 155 women (593 cycles) were treated for sterility with daily doses of 5, 10, or 2.5 mg of epimestrol, from the 1st to the 10th or from the 5th to the 14th day of the cycle. 143 of these patients suffered from secondary amenorrhea, anovulatory cycles, ovulatory oligomenorrhea, corpus luteal insufficiency, and even normal cycles, which resulted in an average of 2.4 years of involuntary sterility. The pregnancy rate was 21% (n = 30) and the rate of spontaneous abortion 13% (n = 4). 12 other women were treated with epimestrol because of secondary amenorrhea or anovulatory bleeding. In those patients with eugonadotropic secondary amenorrhea, 8 of 12 ovulated and 5 of 10 desiring children became pregnant. No patients with hypogonadotropism ovulated. Of 25 patients with anovulatory cycles or bleeding, 13 ovulated and 4 became pregnant. Of those with oligomenorrhea, 17 out of 68 became pregnant. 12 out of 24 patients with corpus luteal insufficiency showed in improvement in the hyperthermic phase and 4 became pregnant. 12 patients with normal cycles showed no change and did not become pregnant. No side effects were experienced.

Topics: Abortion, Spontaneous; Amenorrhea; Anovulation; Berlin; Epimestrol; Estrenes; Female; Humans; Infertility, Female; Oligomenorrhea; Pregnancy; Time Factors

Epimestrol 5 mg. daily for 10 days was administered in 119 treatment cycles to 21 women with normal gonadotropins and 33 ovulations were induced. Of the 21 patients, 7 had secondary amenorrhea, 10 had anovulatory oligomenorrhea and 4 had ovulatory oligomenorrhea. 17 patients desired pregnancies and 6 became pregnant. There was 1 pregnancy among 5 women with secondary amenorrhea. There were 3 pregnancies among 9 patients with anovulatory oligomenorrhea and 2 pregnancies in 3 patients with ovulatory oligomenorrhea. The pregnancy rate was 35%. Side effects were not observed.

Topics: Adult; Amenorrhea; Epimestrol; Estrenes; Female; Humans; Infertility, Female; Infertility, Male; Male; Oligomenorrhea; Ovulation; Pregnancy