Endocrinology: Immunohistochemical sex steroid receptor distribution in endometrium from long-term subdermal levonorgestrel users and during the normal menstrual cycle

Abstract

The bleeding problems experienced by users of subdermal levonorgestrel implants (Norplant) remain unexplained. The aim of the present study was to investigate the oestrogen (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) distribution in levonorgestrel-treated endometrial biopsies from 31 subjects recruited in Jakarta, Indonesia, and to compare the sex steroid receptor immunostaining with that of endometrium from 58 normally cycling women from Melbourne, Australia. Sex steroid receptor immunoreactivity was additionally compared with days of exposure to subdermal levonorgestrel, serum oestradiol and progesterone levels and days of bleeding during a 90-day reference period. An immunohistochemical technique..