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.
Department of Clinical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Umea University, University Hospital, S-901 87 Umea, Sweden.
Lotta
L
Andréen
Mari
M
Bixo
Sigrid
S
Nyberg
Inger
I
Sundström-Poromaa
Torbjörn
T
Bäckström
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