Hormone replacement therapy with transdermal estradiol gel and oral progesterone: effects on menopausal symptoms and lipid metabolism

In a multicenter observational study, the efficacy and acceptance of two di fferent regimens of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy in the form of a combination of 17 beta-estradiol in percutaneous gel application and m icronized oral progesterone were evaluated. Forty-eight patients (aged 40-6 6 years) received 2.5 g estradiol gel plus either continuously micronized p rogesterone 100 per day (group A) or, sequentially, 200 mg per day between day 16 and 25 of a monthly cycle (group B) for two months. A significant re duction in typical menopausal symptoms, especially vasomotor complaints lik e hot flushes or sweating, was observed in both groups (score average at th e beginning for hot flushes: 2.0 in group A and 1.8 in group B; after two m onths of treatment, 0.7 in group A and 0.4 in group B). Cholesterol levels were slightly reduced but statistically significant (235.9 +/- 49.55 mg/dl vs. 226.3 +/- 52.24 mg/dl; p < 0.05) only in group A; a trend towards lower cholesterol was observed in group B (236.5 +/- 47.82 mg/dl vs. 227.4 +/- 4 4.72 mg/dl). Lipoprotein (a) was also significantly reduced in group A (32. 57 +/- 36.52 mg/dl vs. 28.28 +/- 31.03 mg/dl in group A; 31.7 +/- 28.42 mg/ dl vs. 28.34 +/- 23,71 in group B; p < 0.05). The overall acceptance of this therapy was excellent or good in 91.3% of gr oup A and 92.8% of group B patients.