Estrogen treatment of postmenopausal vaginal atrophy--a cytological assessment

The following is an assessment of the maturation value (MV) based upon cytohormonal smears of postmenopausal or hysterectomized patients: (1) There is a negative correlation between the MV and the number of postmenopausal years. (2) There is a positive correlation between MV values higher than 60 and urinary excretion of estrogens. (3) The MV is ideally suited to demonstrate the beneficial effect of various estrogens on the vaginal mucosa. (4) Though its action is delayed, and necessitates a threshold dose of 33 micrograms/kg weight/wk, estriol might be considered as the drug of choice for a beneficial effect on the vaginal mucosa, because of its lack of endometrial action at this dosage.