A HORMONE FOR GESTATION 



reproductive system, and these must be attacked, if possible, 

 by treatment aimed directly at the cause. The physician, 

 however, cannot definitely classify these cases before he treats 

 them. Being a merciful man and anxious to give relief as soon 

 as possible, he generally prescribes what has worked best in 

 his last few cases. He usually tries several things at once, thus 

 spoiling a good experiment in the hope of more relief. As a 

 result, it is very difficult to judge the effects of progesterone 

 when used in the treatment of dysmenorrhea. What is badly 

 needed is a large-scale report from one of the university hos- 

 pital clinics, based on a long series of cases in which pro- 

 gesterone has been used in alternate patients, and in alternate 

 periods in the same patient, so that really scientific checkup 

 of the effects can be provided. Meanwhile, there have been a 

 good many reports of relief of menstrual cramps, some of 

 them almost magical, and other reports of failure. It certainly 

 ought to be tried in cases that have resisted other forms of 

 treatment, and that are severe enough to warrant the neces- 

 sary hypodermic injections, as well as the expense, which may 

 run up to several dollars at each period if large doses are 

 necessary. If the new progesterone-like drugs for administra- 

 tion by mouth prove to be successful, they will simplify the 

 problem. 



Control of irregular or excessive menstrual bleeding. Pro- 

 gesterone has the property of preventing menstruation, as 

 we shall see when we discuss that subject in Chapter VIII. For 

 this reason it is being tried in cases of excessive menstrual 

 bleeding and irregularity. It looks as if this hormone and 

 some of its chemical relatives are going to be really useful in 

 these distressing ailments, as we come to understand them 

 better ; but this is decidedly a matter for trained specialists. 

 No drug can safely be used to stop uterine bleeding except 

 after a thorough examination, to rule out the possibility of 

 bleeding from cancer or other tumor of the uterus. Once such 



{ isi ) 



