[Electronmicroscopical aspects of endometrial distrophy induced by oral contraceptives (author's transl)]

An electron-optical study on the endometrium of 5 controls and 25 patients subjected during 3-12 months to 0.25 mg norgestrel + 0.05 mg etinil-estradiol association treatment is performed. The most prominent electronmicroscopical features of endometrial changes are described, such as the asynchronical maturation of the epithelium and the stroma, the shorthening of the proliferative and secretory phases and the epithelial involution towards the last days of the cycle. Special emphasis is placed on the zonal distribution of these changes. An increase of the nostocitosis phenomena is reported and its significance as a complementary contraceptive mechanism is discussed.