Abstract
Papanicolaou and Shorr 1 have recently described the cytological characteristics of the vaginal smear found in castrates and in women after the menopause. As described by these authors, the smears contain “many leucocytes and a predominance of either non-cornified squamous cells with larger nuclei or of compact cells derived from the deeper layers of the vaginal epithelium, with large well-preserved nuclei.” 1 By the administration of estrogenic substance hypodermically these investigators were able, in 14 out of 15 cases, to demonstrate a change in these smears so that they resembled the “follicular (copulative) phase in the normal female.” 1 This phase is characterized by “leukopenia and epithelial cells of the squamous type, largely cornified with small pyknotic nuclei.” 2 These effects on the smears disappeared several days after cessation of the treatment.
We have recently reported the finding of large quantities of luteinizing factor as well as follicle stimulating factor in both the urine and blood of castrates and natural menopause cases 3 and found that both these factors disappear from the urine and blood following the administration of concentrated estrogenic substance (Progynon-B). 4
The present investigation was undertaken to determine whether any relationship existed between the type of vaginal smear, the gonadotropic hormone excretion and the symptoms in post-menopause cases and in surgical and X-ray castrates.
A group of 45 cases was studied, consisting of 24 surgical castrates, 11 X-ray castrates and 10 natural menopause.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.