A CASE OF PERMANENT ENDOMETRIAL HYPOTROPHY AFTER LONG-TERM USE OF ORAL-CONTRACEPTIVES

We report the case of a 32-year-old patient who after 14 years of unin terrupted use of low-dose, combined, oral contraceptive agents present ed permanent endometrium damage. The patient was referred for prolonge d unexplained infertility with medical history negative for any kind o f endometrial trauma or subclinical endometritis. After the suspension of the oral contraceptives the patient showed a particular discrepanc y between a prompt recovery of the menstrual cycle and absolute inabil ity to obtain a normal endometrial growth. The poor endometrial respon se appeared during cycles of ovarian stimulation as well as during cyc les of hormone replacement. A review of the literature and theoretical interpretations have been attempted in the discussion.