GESTRINONE IN THE TREATMENT OF MYOMAS

In a study involving over 300 women, gestrinone has been found to induce regression of uterine myomas. Gestrinone was given in doses of 2.5-5 mg (orally or by vaginal pessary), two or three times weekly. The treatment regimen depended upon tumor size and tumor age. Patients with small tumors, i.e. uterine volumes of less than 200 cm³ , were treated for 6 months, whereas those with uterine volumes of 200-300 cm³ were treated for 1 year. In severe cases where uterine volumes were greater than 400 cm³ , the patients were treated for 2 years. Large myomas of 300 cm³ or more required higher doses of steroid. During the first 6 months of treatment there was a marked reduction in uterine volume, but subsequently the rate of tumor regression was slower. Following discontinuation of treatment, reactivation of tumor growth was slow in most patients. Gestrinone caused amenorrhea in all patients and in most women it lasted throughout therapy. The abdominal discomfort, dyspareunia and dysuria which resulted from the myoma were progressively alleviated during treatment. Most patients experienced at least some side-effects associated with the mild androgenicity of gestrinone. These included weight gain, seborrhea and acne (which developed in most patients). Hirsutism, hoarseness and increase in libido were less common, affecting 10-20% of patients, depending on the dose and duration of treatment. All side effects were reversible.