ULTRASOUND DETERMINATION OF THE EFFECT OF PROGESTOGENS ON THE ENDOMETRIUM IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN RECEIVING HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY

Progestogen challenge tests were performed in 81 postmenopausal women receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with progestogen addition as required. The number of tests carried out totalled 159. The effect of progestogen use on endometrial thickness was determined by vaginoso nography. The endometrial shedding caused by progestogen was correlate d with the withdrawal bleeding pattern. As expected, in the majority o f cases (145 out of 159), progestogen brought about endometrial sheddi ng. In most but not all cases, shedding was attended by withdrawal ble eding. The intensity and the duration of withdrawal bleeding were posi tively correlated with endometrial shedding. No correlation was found between endometrial shedding and the onset of withdrawal bleeding.