The Use of Stilbestrol for the Treatment of Threatened and Habitual Abortion and Premature Labor : a Preliminary Report
1942 Study Abstract
Corpus luteum has been shown experimentally in animals to be necessary for the main- tenance of normal pregnancy and in human beings when the corpus luteum begins to degenerate after the third month, the placenta evidently takes over its function. Recurrent abortion may be due to diminished progesterone influence upon the uterine glands.
The author suggests that menstruation, labour and uterine bleeding occur at a certain oestrogenic hormone blood, level and that withdrawal of oestrogen is important among endocrine causes of abortion and premature labour, which account for an enormous annual wastage of infant life.
The new synthetic oestrogenic hormone, stilboestrol, is being used in the treatment of premature labour, threatened and habitual abortion, by combining initial injection into the anterior wall of the cervix with subsequent oral administration, continued till the eighth month of pregnancy. Uterine contractions and pain in abortion and in normal labour cease immediately after injection into the cervix, the effect lasting up to 24 hours, which is contrary to previous teaching that oestrogen produces abortion. Patients who are nauseated obtain relief from this symptom, which suggests that oestrogen might also be used in the treatment of nausea of pregnancy.
Several case histories are given in detail to show the results of treatment with stilboestrol, and mention is made of 33 women, threatened with abortion or premature labour, all of whom were successfully treated and later delivered of normal babies.
Sources
- The Use of Stilbestrol for the Treatment of Threatened and Habitual Abortion and Premature Labor : a Preliminary Report, Southern Medical Journal, Vol.35 No.9 pp.838-45 CAB International, Volume 28, Issue 2, Pages 263–273, 1942.
- Feature image NeONBRAND.
DES DIETHYLSTILBESTROL RESOURCES
- Source DES and pregnancy studies.
- Diethylstilbestrol DES studies by topics.