Increase in bone mass after one year of percutaneous oestradiol and testosterone implants in post-menopausal women who have previously received long-term oral oestrogens.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect on the bone density of the skeleton after changing from oral oestrogen to subcutaneous oestradiol and testosterone replacement.


METHODS
Prospective non-randomized single centre study.


METHODS
Twenty women who were receiving long-term oral oestrogen replacement. Ten changed to oestradiol and testosterone implants; the remaining ten continued with oral oestrogens.


METHODS
Bone density was measured using dual photon absorptiometry at the lumbar spine and neck of femur at the start of the study and after one year.


RESULTS
The bone density increased significantly by 5.7% at the spine and by 5.2% at the neck of femur in those women who changed to implant therapy but remained unchanged in those women who continued with oral therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Subcutaneous oestradiol and testosterone implants will result in an increase in bone mass even after many years of oral oestrogen replacement therapy.
Savvas
M
M
King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, UK.
Studd
J W
JW
Norman
S
S
Leather
A T
AT
Garnett
T J
TJ
Fogelman
I
I
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004343:Drug Implants; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D004343:Drug Implants; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone