Hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women with benign fibrocystic mastopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effects of five different hormone replacement regimens on fibrocystic mastopathy in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
This was a randomized, prospective, clinical, case-control study.


METHODS
Two hundred and twelve women with benign cystic mastopathy were studied. The largest diameters of the breast cysts were measured using ultrasonography at study entry. Forty-eight women were randomized to the control group and did not take any medication. One hundred and sixty-four women were randomized to the following study groups. Group I (n = 46) were given conjugated estrogen (0.625 mg/day) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (5 mg/day) continuously. Group II (n = 22) were given only conjugated estrogens (0.625 mg/day) continuously; these were hysterectomized women. Group III (n = 32) were given transdermal estrogen (50 microg/day) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (5 mg/day) continuously. Group IV (n = 32) were given only transdermal estrogen (50 microg/day) continuously; these were also hysterectomized women. Group V (n = 32) were given tibolone (2.5 mg/day) continuously. Hormone therapy was continued for 12 months. Every 3 months the women were rescanned using ultrasonography to determine cyst diameters and examine characteristics such as internal echogenicity, and thickness and regularity of the cyst wall. Statistical assessment used Students' t test and Friedman analysis.


RESULTS
In the control group, there was no statistically significant change in cyst dimensions. However, tibolone was associated with a decrease in cyst dimensions which was statistically significant, but none of the other four hormone replacement therapy regimens caused any significant negative effect on the benign cystic mastopathy.
Yenen
M C
MC
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gülhane School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Dede
M
M
Goktolga
U
U
Kuçuk
T
T
Pabuçcu
R
R
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005348:Fibrocystic Breast Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D009652:Norpregnenes; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; C027385:tibolone