Optimizing continuous-combined hormone replacement therapy for postmenopausal women: a comparison of six different treatment regimens.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine the optimum estradiol valerate-medroxyprogesterone acetate regimens for efficacy and safety.


METHODS
We performed a 24-month, randomized, double-blind phase II study. Four hundred nineteen women who were postmenopausal for at least 3 years were placed in six parallel treatment groups and received 1 or 2 mg estradiol valerate with either 2.5 or 5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate. In two groups the dose of estradiol valerate was increased from 1 to 2 mg estradiol valerate after 6 months.


RESULTS
A marked improvement of climacteric symptoms was observed, and most women had no bleeding even during the first 3 months of treatment. The best bleeding pattern was achieved with 1 mg estradiol valerate and 2.5 or 5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate, and in most groups the bleeding pattern improved over time. No cases of hyperplasia were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
All regimens alleviated climacteric symptoms and provided excellent bleeding control, even during the early weeks of treatment. A choice of various dose combinations offers flexibility of dosing, thus enabling therapy to be tailored to the needs of individual women.
Heikkinen
J E
JE
Deaconess Institute of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Vaheri
R T
RT
Ahomäki
S M
SM
Kainulainen
P M
PM
Viitanen
A T
AT
Timonen
U M
UM
D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D002979:Climacteric / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D045167:Progesterone Congeners / Q000627:therapeutic use
D004338:Drug Combinations; D008055:Lipids; D045167:Progesterone Congeners; D004958:Estradiol; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate