ACCEPTABILITY AND SKIN REACTIONS TO TRANSDERMAL ESTROGEN REPLACEMENT THERAPY IN RELATION TO CLIMATE

The acceptability and skin reaction of Estraderm Transdermal Therapeut ic Systems as a function of climatic variability were examined in vari ous zones which alter considerably in their temperature and humidity. An open, noncomparative prospective study was carried out in four inst itutional out-patient menopausal clinics in varying climatic areas. Ei ghty symptomatic postmenopausal patients without previous estrogen rep lacement were examined. Estraderm T.T.S. 50 was applied twice weekly i n four weekly cycles. Norethisterone-acetate tablets (1 mg), were take n orally for 12 consecutive days. Using a questionnaire, the subjects were asked about the efficacy of the treatment on postmenopausal sympt oms, the adhesiveness and tolerability. The results were matched with the meteorological conditions. The duration of the study was 6 months. Acceptability of Estraderm T.T.S. is high (78.7%). Discontinuation of treatment was found in 21.3% of the study group. The main reason for discontinuation is due to skin reactions which occurred in 14 of the 8 0 patients (17.5%). Meteorological conditions in this study did not in fluence the rate of skin reactions. No difference in acceptability of the treatment was found in relation to the mean temperature and mean h umidity as registered in the dry desert and the humid coastal areas.