TREATMENT OF OVARIAN DYSFUNCTION WITH SMALL DOSES OF CORTISONE OR HYDROCORTISONE*

Abstract

Because mild hirsutism or a high level of urinary 17-ketosteroid excretion is often observed in women with functional irregularities of menstruation, the possibility exists that there may be an associated mild disorder of adrenocortical function. If such were the case, treatment with suitable doses of cortisone or hydrocortisone might be beneficial. Encouraging results were obtained with oral administration of either of these steroids in doses of 2.5 to 5.0 mg. at intervals of eight hours or less to women with hirsutism and infertility. This led to an extension of the trials to include any patients with irregularity or absence of the menses on a functional basis. Among 52 such women, therapy resulted in resumption or increased regularity of ovulation in 46 (89 per cent). Of 38 patients in the series who had associated infertility, 21 (55 per cent) had one or more pregnancies while receiving this type of treatment. No untoward effects were observed. In some instances, hirsutism, acne, or chronic cystic mastitis also improved. The results suggest that an appreciable number of cases of ovarian dysfunction may be related to mild disorders of adrenocortical function, and indicate that continual low-dosage adrenocortical steroid therapy is a practical and effective treatment for such patients.