Correlation between the vaginal cytology and the serum sex hormones after the administration of gestrinone

Vaginal cytology was examined and the serum estradiol (E2), progesterone (P) and testosterone (T) levels were measured in 12 patients with endometriosis treated by gestrinone (G) before, during and after the administration of G. For 4-6 months, 5 of 12 patients received 2.5 mg of G twice a week, whereas the other 7 patients took 5 mg of G twice weekly. Vaginal smears were taken (1) before treatment in the follicular phase;(2) every 2 or 4 weeks during treatment;(3) in the follicular phase after the first menstruation post-treatment and (4) 3 months post-treatment. I) The maturation index (MI) was calculated using Papanicolaou stained vaginal smears. II) At the same time, levels of serum E2, P and T were determined by RIA. I) In smears obtained during treatment, intermediate cells predominated. These were divided into small (Si) and large intermediate cells (Li). Si were topographically close to parabasal cells (PB), while Li were close to superficial cells (SF). Mean MI (PB/Si-Li/SF) was expressed (1) before treatment 0/15-40/45;(2) during treatment 0/52-38/10; and (3) 3 months post-treatment 0/22-41/37. PB increased slightly from 20 weeks, whereas Si increased from the second week (p