[The absorption of conjugated oestrogens from the irradiated and non-irradiated vagina (author's transl)].

Eighteen women received for four weeks daily applications of conjugated estrogens in ointment. Seven had had primary irradiation of carcinoma of the cervix and eleven were in the menopausal stage without irradiation. Before the first medication and 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 24 hours afterwards the estradiol, FSH and LH levels were estimated and the mean values of the two collectives compared. Cytologic smears of the vaginal wall were taken weekly of three irradiated and seven not irradiated patients. From the results one can draw the conclusion that an absorption of the estrogens through the vaginal wall takes place leading to local as well as systemic effects of the estrogens. However in the radiated patients the absorption of estrogen and maturation of the epithelium was significantly slower than in the not-irradiated group.