Quantitative uterine histology during the menstrual cycle in relation to measured menstrual blood loss

Summary.

Endometrium and myometrium were collected at hysterectomy from 42 women with measured menstrual blood loss (range 4–840 ml). The specimens, obtained throughout the menstrual cycle, showed no evidence of organic disease on histological examination. The volume fraction occupied by arteries at the myometrial - endometrial junction, and by glandular tissue throughout the endometrium was estimated with a point counting technique. The index of volume-to-surface ratio of endometrial glandular tissue was examined by a combination of point counting and linear intercept methods. No correlation was found between menstrual blood loss and endometrial and myometrial arterial density, endometrial glandular density and volume-to-surface ratio. Consequently, meno-rrhagia, occurring in the absence of obvious pathology, does not appear to result from an excessive number of arteries of from abnormal glandular distribution.