[Evaluation of safety in Chinese women with amenorrhea following injection of depot-medroxyprogesterone for contraception].
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether serum estradiol (E2) level was low after Depot-medroxyprogesterone (DMPA) induced amenorrhea for contraception, thus to evaluate the safety of using DMPA.


METHODS
Forty four Chinese women with amenorrhea after injecting DMPA were investigated, and the median period of amenorrhea was 18 months. Symptoms, pelvic examination, serum E2 and follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, and vaginal cytology were examined.


RESULTS
Women with amenorrhea had neither symptoms nor genital atrophy that similar to menopausal syndrome. The median level of serum E2 was 150.5 pmol/L (equal to the level of early follicular phase), and the median level of serum FSH was 14.0 IU/L. There were no correlation between E2 and FSH levels, and no correlation between amenorrhea period and E2 or FSH levels (P > 0.05) as well. No significant relationship between estrogen effects by vaginal cytology and the time period of amenorrhea was found. However, the estrogen effect was significantly correlated to the interval from last injection to vaginal smear tested.


CONCLUSIONS
It could be concluded that though DMPA may induce amenorrhea, it will not lower serum E2 levels, and the inhibition of ovarian function is reversible.
Zhu
M
M
Sichuan Reproductive Health Institute, Chengdu 610041.
Lei
Z
Z
Yang
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014621:Vagina / Q000166:cytology
D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate