Effect of Progesterone on Fallopian Tube Contractility

It has been previously shown that the Fallopian tubes in women after the menopause lose the rhythmic contractions which, in cyclical women, can be recorded on a kymograph. 1 It was further shown that regular rhythmic contractions can be restored to the Fallopian tubes by the administration of adequate doses of estrogenic hormone.

In the present investigation, an attempt was made to evaluate the effect of progesterone on the Fallopian tube contractility. Five post-menopause women were selected whose vaginal smear studies revealed definite estrogen deficiency. Preliminary control kymographic recordings of the tubal contractions were obtained at weekly intervals, employing the Rubin insufflation apparatus. 2 The patients were then each given a course of estrogen injections in the form of estradiol-benzoate∗ (Progynon-B). The total dosage varied from 450,000 to 900,000 I.U. given intramuscularly in divided doses over a period of 10 days. At the end of the course of estrogen injections, recordings of tubal contractions were again obtained. In each case the preliminary control recording revealed a complete absence of tubal contractions and, after the estrogen administration, regular rhythmic fluctuations appeared.

Immediately following the last recording of tubal contractions, the patients were given 20 mg of progesterone∗ (Proluton) intramuscularly in 4 cc of sesame oil. The patients were then again insufflated 2 hours later. The recording taken 2 hours after the administration of the progesterone revealed a complete absence of pressure fluctuations, indicating inhibition of tub 1 contractions. The kymographic recordings of a typical case are presented in Fig. 1.

It would appear from the results of these experiments that the Fallopian tube contractions which are induced by estrogenic hormone can be inhibited by progesterone.