Gestrinone in the treatment of menorrhagia

Summary. The role of gestrinone, 2.5 mg twice weekly, in treating proven menorrhagia (>80 ml) was examined in 19 women. They were treated for five cycles (2 placebo, 3 active), taking one capsule twice weekly. Placebo had no effect on menstrual blood loss (MBL). On gestrinone 10 women became amenorrhoeic, in five MBL was markedly reduced (5–74 ml) and four did not respond. In three of the non-responders submucous leiomyomas were found at subsequent hysterectomy. Follow-up periods showed a persistent reduction in MBL for nine women in the first post-treatment menstruation.