Platelet serotonin content and plasma tryptophan in peri- and postmenopausal women: variations with plasma oestrogen levels and depressive symptoms.

Platelet serotonin content was measured by high pressure liquid chromatography in 56 peri- and postmenopausal women, in order to study variations of this parameter with hormonal status and depressive mood symptoms. Clinical symptoms were assessed by a self-report depression symptom scale (CES-D of NIMH). Thirty-eight women with a score of 16 or more were considered as presenting depressive symptoms (mean score +/- SD = 28.

Endometrium and plasma hormone profile in the peri-menopause and post-menopause.

Endometrial histology and plasma levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), 17 beta-oestradiol (E2), oestrone (E1) and progesterone (P) were studied in 483 women over a period of 13 yr (6 yr before and 7 yr after the start of definitive amenorrhoea, defined as the last menstrual bleeding). The patterns for these parameters were established on the basis of the results of 1227 gonadotrophin and steroid determinations and 721 endometrial biopsies. Three periods were identified.

Multicentre study of effects of Org OD 14 on endometrium, vaginal cytology and cervical mucus in post-menopausal and oophorectomized women.

A multicentre study covering 69 post-menopausal or oophorectomized women was performed to determine whether Org OD 14 [7 alpha, 17 alpha)-17-hydroxy-7-methyl-19-norpregn-5(10)-en-20-yn-3-one) administered orally in a daily dose of 2.5 mg for 90 consecutive days induces endometrial proliferation. The treatment with Org OD 14 was continued in combination with 1 mg/day of lynestrenol from day 91 for 10 days to ascertain whether secretory transformation of the endometrium and subsequent withdrawal bleeding would occur.

[Preservation of the ovaries in peri-menopause].

The authors analyse the motivation for allowing conservation of healthy ovaries when surgical operations are being undertaken round about the time of the menopause. When patients who are at risk are excluded, and when pathological ovaries are excluded, as also when there is a technical impossibility of conserving the ovaries, they can be conserved. This implies that one should check the ovary that is left behind histologically, especially looking for the risk of cancer developing later.