Chronic fatigue syndrome: a hormonal origin? A rare case of dysmenorrhea membranacea.
BACKGROUND
Membranous dysmenorrhea is a rare entity involving expulsion of fragments of endometrium retaining the shape of the uterus. The condition is often linked to high progesterone levels. An association with a chronic fatigue syndrome was never described.


METHODS
A 44-year-old woman with a chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), presented with membranous dysmenorrhea after taking an oral contraceptive pill containing ethinylestradiol 0.02 mg and desogestrel 0.15 mg for 3 months in a continuous regimen as treatment for dysfunctional bleeding. Oral contraception was discontinued and she resumed normal menstruations. Remarkably, she mentioned complete disappearance of the CFS since expulsion of the tissue and started working again.


CONCLUSIONS
The occurrence of membranous dysmenorrhea with a dissolving chronic fatigue syndrome is very rare and was never described before. This case suggests a hormonal dysfunction as a possible cause of chronic fatigue syndrome. A review of the literature on membranous dysmenorrhea is presented.
Veldman
Joan
J
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Catholic University Leuven, Louvain, Belgium.
Van Houdenhove
Boudewijn
B
Verguts
Jasper
J
D000328:Adult; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017135:Desogestrel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008796:Metrorrhagia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous
D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D017135:Desogestrel