title: [Cervical factor in sterility: treatment with intravaginal estriol].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of vaginal estriol in treating the isolated cervical factor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three different groups of patients were selected at random on the basis of the administered therapy (estriol, ethinyl-estradiol, bromhexine associated with gonadotropins). The patients (thirty in all) came to the Autonomous Sterility Department of the Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital in Milan during the November 1994-January 1996 period. The following parameters were evaluated: cervical score according to Insler, cervical pH; in vivo penetration test (PCT) at third and sixth cycle of treatment; evaluation of the hormonal profile during the ovulatory period of estriol, estradiol, LH and progesterone at the third and sixth cycles of treatment; any possible pregnancy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On the whole, 23 patients out of 30 (76.6%) had a positive in vivo penetration test. Particularly, a more favourable result was observed in the group to which vaginal estriol was administered as it presented, at treatment end, a positive PCT in 90% of cases. Moreover, always in the latter group, a greater percentage of pregnancies (40%) was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The obtained results have demonstrated that the drug we have studied can be recommended as a valid therapy for the treatment of the isolated cervical factor of sterility.
authors.affiliation: Sezione Autonoma per la Sterilità, e la Patologia Ostetrica Ginecologica Funzionale, Ospedale Niguarda Ca' Granda, Milano.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zaffaroni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spiller
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Vinci
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D004964:Estriol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D010060:Ovulation / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014621:Vagina / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D011374:Progesterone; D004964:Estriol