Clinical and hormonal aspects of therapeutic ovarian inhibition with antiovulatory steroids

After reviewing current physiopathological theories concerning the hormonal basis of therapeutic ovarian inhibition by means of steroids preventing ovulation the use of these compounds in the treatment of some gynecological conditions such as functional uterine hemorrhages endometriosis and polycystic disease of the ovary is analyzed. It is concluded that the prolonged administration of compounds having a negative feedback effect on the control of ovarian activity by the hypot halamus-hypophysis system is often followed by the restoration of a better balanced cyclical rhythm of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone secretion which results in an improvement in the fu nctioning of the gonad.(AUTHORS MODIFIED)