Endometrial thickness and uterine diameter not affected by ultralow doses of 17beta-estradiol in elderly women.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to monitor changes in endometrial thickness and uterine diameter during treatment with ultralow doses of estradiol, which might improve the serum lipid profile in elderly women.


METHODS
Ultrasonographic changes were monitored in 60 women with an intact uterus in a group of 70 healthy women who were previously evaluated for changes in serum lipid levels. Subjects were 60 years and older and were randomly assigned to receive parenteral 17beta-estradiol (7.5 microg/24 h), delivered by a vaginal ring (Estring; Pharmacia-Upjohn, Malmö, Sweden), or no treatment for 12 months.


RESULTS
Estring treatment yielded minor increases in serum estrone sulfate and 17beta-estradiol levels within the normal postmenopausal range. The maximal endometrial thickness was 2.8 mm at baseline and 2.6 mm at 12 months. No significant changes within or between the study groups were found in endometrial thickness or uterine diameter. There were no significant interactions between age and baseline serum estrone sulfate or 17beta-estradiol levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultralow doses of 17beta-estradiol, which might improve serum lipid levels, did not significantly change endometrial thickness or uterine diameter. This might indicate that there is a "therapeutic window" for systemic effects of ultralow doses of estradiol in elderly women without any apparent increase in endometrial thickness.
Naessen
Tord
T
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Rodriguez-Macias
Kenny
K
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D003274:Contraceptive Devices, Female; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004717:Endometrium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014599:Uterus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects*
D008055:Lipids; D004958:Estradiol