Comparison of transdermal estradiol and tibolone for the treatment of oophorectomized women with deep residual endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effect of HRT with transdermal estradiol and that of treatment with tibolone in post-menopausal women with residual endometriosis.


METHODS
21 women with residual pelvic endometriosis after bilateral oophorectomy with or without hysterectomy were enrolled in the study and were randomized to HRT with transdermal estradiol 50 mg twice weekly (n = 10) associated with cyclic medroxyprogesterone acetate 10 mg daily in women who preserved uterus, and to treatment with tibolone 2.5 mg administered orally once a day (n = 11). The duration of both treatments was scheduled to last at least 12 months. Residual endometriosis was located in the bowel wall in four patients, in the rectovaginal septum in six and deeply in the retroperitoneal pelvic space in six. All women were symptomatic before oophorectomy.


RESULTS
All the women were followed for 12 months. No patient suspended therapy because of side effects. Four patients of the estradiol group experienced moderate pelvic pain during treatment compared with only one patient in the tibolone group. One patient in the estradiol group reported severe dyspareunia.


CONCLUSIONS
Although our series is very small, it seems that tibolone may be a safe hormonal treatment for post-menopausal women with residual endometriosis.
Fedele
L
L
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Verona, Policlinico Borgoroma, Italy. obgynvr@webko.it
Bianchi
S
S
Raffaelli
R
R
Zanconato
G
G
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010388:Pelvis
D045930:Anabolic Agents; D009652:Norpregnenes; D004958:Estradiol; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; C027385:tibolone