OVARIAN CYSTS AND CYCLIC HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY - IS THERE AN ASSOCIATION

Objectives. To evaluate whether there may be an association between po stmenopausal ovarian cysts and hormone replacement therapy. Methods. T he study comprised 564 consecutive, asymptomatic, postmenopausal women who were referred for routine, transvaginal ultrasound examinations b etween January 1 and December 31, 1995. Various demographic and ultras onographic parameters were recorded on a prospectively-created, comput erized data base. Results. There was no difference in the prevalence o f ovarian cysts with or without hormone replacement therapy (10.5% vs. 12.5%, respectively). However, in the subgroup of early postmenopausa l women (40-55 years), the use of hormone replacement therapy was asso ciated with a significantly reduced prevalence of ovarian cysts (10.4% vs. 28.6%; p<0.05). Conclusions. Hormone replacement therapy is assoc iated with a reduced prevalence of ovarian cysts in early postmenopaus e.