THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MENOPAUSAL VASOMOTOR SYMPTOMS AND GONADOTROPHIN EXCRETION IN URINE AFTER OOPHORECTOMY

Abstract

Summary The prevalence of menopausal vasomotor symptoms was assessed in 190 women seen for the first time at various intervals after oophorectomy. Urinary gonadotrophin excretion was measured and the vasomotor symptoms were assessed in 119 patients who were seen again at least one year after being given prescriptions for two tablets daily of either 20 μg. of mestranol or placebo. The prevalence of symptoms decreased with the elapse of time after oophorectomy and showed a significant inverse correlation with urinary gonadotrophin excretion. Mestranol therapy caused a significant reduction in both the prevalence of symptoms and urinary gonadotrophin excretion. Therapeutic failures were usually the result of inadequate medication. It is suggested that menopausal vasomotor symptoms and gonadotrophin excess both reflect hypothalamic‐pituitary dysfunction and are not otherwise causally related.