Vasodilator effects of estrogen are not diminished by androgen in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effects of estrogen with estrogen-androgen treatment on vaginal blood flow velocity and fingertip postocclusive hyperemic blood flow response.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, parallel, double-blind study.


METHODS
Healthy human volunteers in an academic research environment.


METHODS
Postmenopausal women receiving estrogen replacement therapy for at least 12 months and treated with placebo before this investigation.


METHODS
Esterified estrogens or esterified estrogen + methyltestosterone were administered orally; laser Doppler velocimetry was used to determine vaginal and fingertip blood flow responses at baseline and after 4 and 8 weeks of daily drug administration.


METHODS
Fingertip postocclusive area under curve (AUC); vaginal blood flow velocities.


RESULTS
The AUC for postocclusive fingertip blood flow and vaginal blood flow increased to a greater extent in the estrogen-androgen group, but changes were not statistically significant between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Estrogen-androgen treatment does not diminish the vasodilator effects of estrogen treatment in postmenopausal women.
Sarrel
P M
PM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Wiita
B
B
D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D008777:Methyltestosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D045165:Testosterone Congeners / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014621:Vagina / Q000098:blood supply*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*
D004967:Estrogens; D045165:Testosterone Congeners; D008777:Methyltestosterone