[Endometrial cytology in normal postmenopausal women and during hormone replacement therapy].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the possibility of endometrial cyopathologic examination as a method of monitoring endometrium during hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
Endometrial cells were taken via tubal aspiration in 60 normal postmenopausal women (non-HRT group) and 41 with HRT for 3-18 months (HRT group). Their morphologic changes were observed and compared by cytopathologist.


RESULTS
Atrophic endometrium was found in 51.7% of the non-HRT group. Its proportion increased with age and the time after menopause. Macrophages were seen in 68.3% of this group. However, in the HRT group the occurrence of atrophic type and macrophage (12.2%, 7.0% respectively) was significantly lower than that in the non HRT group (P < 0.05). Heterogeneity of endometrial cell type was shown both in non-HRT (38.3%) and HRT (65.8%) groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Endometrial cells of postmenopausal women are not always atrophic in appearance. They change significantly during HRT. Endometrial cytological examination may be useful for monitoring during HRT.
Wei
Y
Y
General Railway Hospital of Beijing.
Xue
J
J
Lin
S
S
D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage
D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol