COMPARISON OF THE IMPACT OF ORAL VERSUS TRANSDERMAL ESTROGEN ON SERUM-LIPOPROTEINS

In an attempt to compare the effects of transdermal and oral conjugate d estrogen on serum lipoproteins, 35 premenopausal women who underwent total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingoophorectomy were r andomized to receive either 0.625 mg of conjugated oral estrogen or 0. 05 mg transdermal 17 beta-E(2) during the first postoperative year. Li pid profiles were assessed before surgery and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 month s of therapy in each subject. Neither oral nor transdermal estrogen re placement therapy produced significant changes on serum lipoproteins a t the end of first year when compared with baseline preoperative value s. We conclude that both transdermal and oral administration of estrog en are promising in the maintenance of premenopausal lipid values afte r menopause.