Abstract

PIP: Menstrual flow was measured daily during menstruation by means of intravaginal cups in 30 women not taking steroids and in 12 women who were taking steroids orally for contraceptive purposes. In the group of women not taking steroids, a wide variation in individual flow rates was observed, the greatest menstrual loss occurring during the first 48 hours of the peroid. 1 woman using an IUD exhibited an average hourly discharge exceeding the range in controls. Menstrual flow in women taking synthetic progestin and estrogen in combination for contraceptive purposes was only 1/3 that observed in nonsteroid controls during the first 2 days of menstruation. A daily variation in menstrual discharge volume did not occur. It is postulated that in women taking oral contraceptives, alterations in menstrual physiology may be related to morphologic changes in the uterus.