PROGESTERONE IN AQUEOUS CRYSTALLINE SUSPENSION VERSUS PROGESTERONE IN OIL: COMPARISON BY WITHDRAWAL BLEEDING TESTS IN THE HUMAN FEMALE

Abstract

IN accord with the recent trend in endocrine replacement therapy toward a depot effect, studies are being reported on comparisons of the relative effects of the various steroid hormones in aqueous crystalline suspension and in oily solution. The literature on this subject is still small and is chiefly limited to work on animals. The following experiments were designed to test the comparative activity of an aqueous crystalline suspension of progesterone, and a solution of progesterone in sesame oil, in elderly postmenopausal women. Estrogen and progesterone withdrawal bleeding in many patients well past the menopause has been previously demonstrated (1). The criterion established for comparing the biologic activity of various preparations having luteal activity, namely, the capacity to produce withdrawal bleeding under certain dosage schedules, was followed in the present study. The production of uterine bleeding by this method is dependent upon progesterone deprivation in the presence of sustained estrogen influence.