234 ENDOCRINE GLANDS 



is very irritable and varies from one minute to the other. 

 The sexual sensations are exaggerated during the men- 

 strual period. 



To this hyperf unction of the ovaries are con- 

 nected certain metrorrhagias appearing at puberty or at 

 the menopause. 



I. METRORRHAGTA OF PUBERTY. 



These are characterized by more or less abundant 

 hemorrhages at the time of the menses (menorrhagia) or 

 in the interval (metrorrhagia) accompanied by pains in 

 the pelvis radiating in the lumbar region of the thighs. 

 The pains precede the hemorrhages, or may occur in the 

 interval. In spite of the loss of blood the general health 

 stays good, but at a certain time occurs signs of anemia, 

 so that these patients are mistaken for chlorotics. 



These metrorrhagias may disappear when menstruation 

 is definitely established; very often they keep on having 

 abundant menses. 10 



In some cases the hemorrhages persist and are com- 

 parable to those observed in fibroids necessitating opera- 

 tive intervention. 



II. METRORRHAGIA OF THE MENOPAUSE. 



It is found in women between 40 and 50 having had, or 

 not, several pregnancies, or in unmarried sterile women 

 without any genital history. 



During the first stage, which may last several months 

 and even several years, menstruation is irregular; the 

 menses are abundant one month, the next they are 

 absent. Then occur menorrhagias, lasting longer and 



10 These early menorrhagias and metrorrhagias are explained by the lack of harmony 

 in the retrogression of thymus activity and the evolution of the ovarian stimulation. 



