Colpocytological indicators for dysfunctional uterine bleeding

Currently, no one doubts that hormonal changes during the normal menstrual cycle and with its violations are clearly reflected in the picture of the vaginal smear, depending on progressive and regressive changes in the vaginal mucosa. According to some authors, regressive changes in the vagina occur under the influence of progesterone, while others observed similar changes when the production of estrogen stopped without the influence of progesterone. G.F. Khrustaleva (1963) met in patients with dysfunctional uterine bleeding regressive changes in the vagina, characteristic of the luteal phase of the ovulatory cycle, due to a decrease in the amount of estrogen in the body. Despite the difference of opinion on the causes of the onset of regressive changes in the vaginal mucosa, the cytological method of research is of great value for studying the functional state of the ovaries in menstrual irregularities, in particular in dysfunctional uterine bleeding.