Endometrial blood flow measured by xenon 133 clearance in women with normal menstrual cycles and dysfunctional uterine bleeding

Endometrial blood flow was measured through the menstrual cycle in nonpregnant women (28 studies of 17 women with normal menstrual cycles and 32 studies of 20 women with dysfunctional utenne bleeding) with use of a clearance technique in which 100 to 400 μCi of the γ-emitting isotope, xenon 133 in saline solution was instilled into the uterine cavity. The mean (±SEM) endometrial blood flow in normal cycles was 27.7 ± 2.6 ml/100 gm/min, with a significant elevation in the middle to late follicular phase, followed by a substantial fall and a secondary slow luteal phase rise that was maintained until tho onset of menstruation. There was a significant correlation between piasma estradiol levels and endometrial blood flow in the follicular but not the luteal phase. Blood flow parterns in women with ovulatory dysfunctional bleeding were similar to normal, except for a significantly lower middle follicular rate. Women with anovulatory dysfunctional bleeding exhibited exceedingly variable flow rates.