A comparative study of danazol, a regimen of decreasing doses of danazol, and norethindrone in the treatment of objectively proven unexplained menorrhagia.

Objective: Our purpose was to compare the efficacy of the recommended dose of danazol, a reduced-dose danazol regimen, and norethindrone in the treatment of objectively proven menorrhagia. Recurrence after discontinuing treatment was also assessed.

Study Design: The study was a single-blind, randomized, parallel, comparative study.

Endometrial phospholipases A2, polycystic ovaries and pelvic pain.

Objective: To compare the activity of calcium independent phospholipase A2 in the endometrium of women with polycystic ovaries and in women with normal ovaries, and to investigate the influence of chronic pelvic pain on phospholipase A2 activity.

Design: A prospective descriptive study.

Setting: The Samaritan Hospital for Women and the Unit of Metabolic Medicine, St Mary's Hospital Medical School, London.

Risk-benefit assessment of drugs used for the treatment of menstrual disorders.

This article considers the benign yet debilitating conditions of menorrhagia, dysmenorrhoea and irregular menstrual bleeding. Surprisingly little has been reported in the literature concerning these common ailments which can detract from the quality of female life during the reproduction years. Both dysmenorrhoea and menorrhagia are subjective complaints, but despite accurate means of measuring menstrual blood loss such quantification is rarely performed.

Phospholipase activity in the endometrium of women with normal menstrual blood loss and women with proven ovulatory menorrhagia.

The activity of phospholipase A2 types 1 and 2 and phospholipase C was measured in the endometrium of women with ovulatory menorrhagia and in those with normal menstrual blood loss. In both groups of subjects phospholipase A2 type 1 activity was significantly higher in the secretory phase than in the proliferative phase (P less than 0.001).

The medical management of menorrhagia.

Menorrhagia is a common problem which may result in chronic anaemia and cause considerable social embarrassment. Various medical treatments are available to reduce excessive blood loss, thus lessening the effects of this benign yet debilitating condition. In this article these drugs and their potential beneficial effects are reviewed.

Assessment of menstrual blood loss using a pictorial chart.

Objective menstrual blood loss measurements (in ml) were compared with the score obtained from a pictorial blood loss assessment chart (PBAC) which took into account the degree to which each item of sanitary protection was soiled with blood as well as the total number of pads or tampons used. Twenty eight women used the chart during 55 menstrual cycles and a single observer assessed 122 cycle collections in a similar manner. A pictorial chart score of 100 or more, when used as a diagnostic test for menorrhagia, was found to have a specificity and sensitivity of greater than 80%.