[Structure and ultrastructure of the endometrium with the depot contraceptive Depositon]

Endometrium was investigated histologically in 55 fertile women and by electron-microscope in 6 women under the influence of Deposiston (Jenapharm), a sequential contraceptive containing a long acting oestrogen--ethinyloestradiolsulfonate. The drug was administered orally in 1 mg doses on the 5., 12. and 19. day of each cycle. To achieve proper withdrawal bleeding a single oral dose of 10 mg norethisteronacetate was given on the 26. day of the cycle. Whereas Sequenz- Ovosiston (Jenapharm), a "classical" sequential preparation causes only insignificant variations from the physiological endometrium of fertile women, Deposiston developes irregularly proliferated patterns in more than 50% of the patients, due to differences of the elimination rate of ethinyloestradiolsulfonate. The degree of proliferation covers a wide range from a slightly proliferated endometrium to changes similar to hyperplasia of the endometrium with cystically enlarged glands. The secretory transformation takes place 2 or 3 days following the progestogen application. In 2 of the cases a secretory pattern could be found several days before the intake of the progestogen. This indicates break-through-ovulations.