Retrograde menstruation in healthy women and in patients with endometriosis

Halme J; Hammond MG; Hulka JF; Raj SG; Talbert LM

Menstrual Cycle · Cycle Physiology

Retrograde menstruation in healthy women and in patients with endometriosis

Halme J, Hammond MG, Hulka JF, Raj SG, Talbert LM

Published August 1984 Obstetrics and Gynecology, 64(2), 151-154

Abstract

Blood was found in the peritoneal fluid in 90% of women with patent tubes at laparoscopy during perimenstrual time. If the fallopian tubes were occluded, then only 15% of patients had evidence of blood in the pelvis. Also, 90% of patients with endometriosis and eight of nine women on oral contraceptives had bloody fluid during the menstrual period. The present observations indicate that retrograde menstruation through the fallopian tubes into the peritoneal cavity is a very common physiologic event in all menstruating women with patent tubes.

Topics

Menstrual Cycle › Cycle Physiology › Hormonal Regulation · Endometriosis › Pathophysiology › Origin Theories

Halme et al. 1984, Halme 1984

Keywords

Ascitic Fluid/metabolism, Contraceptives, Oral/administration & Dosage, Endometriosis/pathology, Fallopian Tube Patency Tests, Female, Hematocrit, Humans, Infertility, Female/diagnosis, Laparoscopy, Menstruation Disturbances/pathology, Sterilization, Tubal, Time Factors, Contraceptives, Oral

Retrograde menstruation in healthy women and in patients with endometriosis

Abstract

Topics

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Keywords