Safety and efficacy of oestriol for symptoms of natural or surgically induced menopause

To assess the safety and efficacy of oestriol in relieving post-menopausal symptoms 53 post-menopausal Japanese women with climacteric symptoms, 27 wi th natural menopause (group I) and 26 with surgically induced menopause (gr oup II), received oral oestriol, 2 mg daily for 12 months. Clinical paramet ers including Kupperman index (KI) and the degree of satisfaction with symp tomatic relief; serum concentrations of oestradiol, FSH and LH; serum lipid s; blood pressure; bone mineral density, serum calcium (Ca), alkaline phosp hatase (ALP), and urinary Ca were compared between the two groups. Oestriol improved KI in groups I and II by 49 and 80% respectively. Satisfaction wi th treatment was 85% in group I and 93% in group II. For both parameters, v alues were significantly different between groups I and II (P < 0.05 for bo th). Serum concentrations of oestradiol, FSH and LH changed in group I vers us group II 6 months after initiation. A significant decrease in serum ALP and Ca/Cr was observed in group I at 6 months. Except for serum triglycerid es, oestriol had no significant effect on lipids, Systolic and diastolic bl ood pressures were significantly decreased in group I at 3 months versus ba seline. Slight vaginal bleeding occurred in 14.3% of group I. Histological evaluation of the endometrium in all women of group I and ultrasound assess ment of the breasts following 12 months of oestriol treatment found normal results in all women. Therefore, oestriol appeared to be safe and effective in relieving symptoms of menopausal women. The beneficial biochemical effe cts of oestriol were marked in the natural menopause. Overall, oestriol may serve as a good choice for hormone replacement therapy to protect against other climacteric symptoms in post-menopausal women who do not need medicat ion for osteoporosis or coronary artery disease.