Progesterone effects during sequential hormone replacement therapy.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to investigate the effect on mood and the physical symptoms of two dosages of natural progesterone and a placebo in postmenopausal women with and without a history of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).


METHODS
A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study was performed.


METHODS
Postmenopausal women (n=36) with climacteric symptoms were recruited. They received 2 mg estradiol continuously during three 28-day cycles. Vaginal progesterone suppositories with 800 mg/day, 400 mg/day, or placebo were added sequentially for 14 days per cycle. Daily symptom ratings using a validated rating scale were kept.


RESULTS
Women without a history of PMS showed cyclicity in both negative mood and physical symptoms while on 400 mg/day progesterone but not on the higher dose or the placebo. Women without a history of PMS had more physical symptoms on progesterone treatment compared with placebo. Women with prior PMS reported no progesterone-induced symptom cyclicity.


CONCLUSIONS
In women without prior PMS natural progesterone caused negative mood effects similar to those induced by synthetic progestogens.
Andréen
Lotta
L
Department of Clinical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Umea University, University Hospital, S-901 87 Umea, Sweden.
Bixo
Mari
M
Nyberg
Sigrid
S
Sundström-Poromaa
Inger
I
Bäckström
Torbjörn
T
D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010507:Periodicity; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013488:Suppositories
D013488:Suppositories; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol