Effect of Theelin Injections upon the Castrated Woman

Abstract

These experiments were an attempt to determine the effect of various dosages of theelin upon human female castrates of different ages and for varying periods of castration with particular interest in the effect upon the subjective symptoms of castration and the involuntary changes of the breasts and genital tract.

Five white women who had complete bilateral ovariectomy performed and whose uteri were intact were used in these experiments. The ages ranged from 22 to 40 years. The age at castration ranged from 21 to 38 years and the time elapsing since castration ranged from 6 1/2 months to 6 years. All had amenorrhea and the subjective symptoms of castration and all showed atrophic breasts and genital tracts upon physical examination. Curretage of the endometrium showed extensive atrophy of the endometrium in all cases. All other physical and laboratory tests were normal.

All patients received daily a dose of 200 rat units of theelin intramuscularly in the upper genital region during the first 28 days, 300 rat units during the second 28 days, and 400 rat units during the third 28 day period. After the third period, injections were stopped to determine if uterine bleeding would occur as claimed by some writers. The total period of daily observation of each patient was over 5 months.

All patients showed relief from subjective symptoms of castration in from 6 to 20 days. All showed an increased congestion of the cervix and a mucous discharge from the cervix within the first two weeks. All patients showed enlargement of the breasts, erection of the nipples and sometimes even complained of the tingling and sense of fullness of the breasts. The oldest patient, 40 years of age, alone failed to show a relatively marked hyperplasia of the endometrium and alone failed to show bleeding from the uterus accompanied by all the usual subjective symptoms of menstruation.