Sequential use of norethisterone and natural progesterone in pre-menopausal bleeding disorders

Sequential treatment with norethisterone (NET) or natural micronized progesterone (NMP) was administered randomly to 80 consecutive patients attending our clinic because of cycle disorders. The endometrial morphology indicated a need for progestogen therapy in all cases and the endometrium was hyperplastic in half of the women before therapy. Hyperplastic changes disappeared during the first three cycles of treatment with both NET and NMP, the duration of treatment being 6 months. However, the carry-over effect of both progestogens was short: three months after treatment was discontinued a proliferative or hyperplastic endometrial pattern recurred in 24% and 10% of cases, respectively. Whereas NET decreased oestradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and sex-hormone-binding globulin levels (P less than 0.001) no changes were seen during NMP treatment. High-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels were also lowered by NET (P less than 0.001-0.02) and there was a slight decrease in phospholipids. NMP treatment induced no changes in serum lipid values and thus offers an alternative form of therapy in premenopausal bleeding disorders.