Endometrial shedding and regeneration: an electron microscopic study in the human being.

Whether the stroma of the endometrium, the spongy layer or the deeper parts of the endometrial glands is the origin of the postmenstrual surface epithelium is a matter of different opinions. The endometrium was examined during the second day of the menstrual bleeding in 20 fertile females using the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Proliferative and secretory endometrium were present denoting the onset of regeneration by that time. The superficial parts of the endometrial glands in some areas were projecting on the surface of the remaining spongy layer like worms having nipple like heads and an opening like a mouth. Endometrial regeneration began in the deeper parts of the endometrial glands as columns of rounded cells with central cavities which had everted thick edges on reaching the surface. These everted edges were growing in all directions to cover the remaining spongy layer with surface epithelium containing ciliated and non-ciliated cells. Exposure of the deeper parts of the glands is essential for regeneration. The delay in shedding the superficial parts of the glands may play an important role in dysfunctional uterine bleeding.

Electron microscopic and chemical study of the deposits formed on the copper and inert IUCDs.

The surface of 25 copper IUCDs and 25 inert IUCDs that had been in utero for less than 6 months or more than a year was examined by the scanning electron microscope and the deposits were extracted from another 100 copper and inert IUCDs that had been in utero for less than 6 months or more than a year and examined by the atomic analyser. The most apparent changes were, respectively, amorphous deposits and cellular debris, crystalline deposits, cracks, duplex coating, distortion and corrosion. Duplex coating was found only on inert IUCDs, but corrosion was found on copper IUCDs. The duration of use of the IUCDs had marked effect on the type of the deposits. Bleeding with IUCDs was associated with a thick layer of amorphous deposits. The contraceptive effect of the IUCDs was found to depend on the reaction of the host to the applied IUCDs rather than the type of device. The surface deposits were found to contain mainly calcium, phosphorus and magnesium.

Urinary hormonal profile during the first cycle of low-dose oral contraceptive pills in women.

Ovarian function was studied in ten normal fertile women before and during the first cycle on a low-dose micropill containing 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol and 150 mcg L-norgestrel. In a control cycle and the first treatment cycle, steroid metabolites estrone-3-glucuronide (E1-3G) and pregnanediol-3 alpha-glucuronide (Pd-3G) were measured in daily early morning urine (EMU) samples. Also, luteinizing hormone (LH) was estimated during the expected periovulatory period. During the first cycle of micropill intake, ovarian function was suppressed in all cases. This is evidenced by significantly lower E1-3G and Pd-3G and absent midcycle LH peak compared to control cycles. The pattern of steroid metabolites was almost flat with no peaks. It is concluded that there is no need to cover the first cycle of micropill intake with other contraceptive methods.