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 vaginosonography. The endometrial shedding caused by progestogen was correlated with the withdrawal bleeding pattern. As expected, in the majority of cases (145 out of 159), progestogen brought about endometrial shedding. In most but not all cases, shedding was attended by withdrawal bleeding. The intensity and the duration of withdrawal bleeding were positively correlated with endometrial shedding. No correlation was found between endometrial shedding and the onset of withdrawal bleeding.