Efficacy of a new, oral estradiol acetate formulation for relief of menopause symptoms.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy of three doses of a new, oral formulation of estradiol acetate (EA) for alleviation of vasomotor and urogenital symptoms in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
Two separate 12-week studies were undertaken in postmenopausal women with moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms. In the first study, women were randomly assigned to EA 0.9 mg/day, EA 1.8 mg/day, or placebo (study 1; N = 293), and in the second study to oral EA 0.45 mg/day or placebo (study 2; N = 259). Women recorded the frequency and severity of vasomotor symptoms daily and urogenital symptoms weekly on diary cards. Investigators assessed signs of vaginal atrophy.


RESULTS
Frequency of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms decreased significantly versus placebo, starting at week 2 in the EA 1.8-mg group (P = 0.005), week 3 in the EA 0.9-mg group (P = 0.003), and week 6 in the EA 0.45-mg group (P < 0.05). At week 12, mean percent reduction from baseline in vasomotor-symptom frequency was 91%, 78%, and 61%, respectively. Vasomotor-symptom severity decreased significantly versus placebo, starting at weeks 2 and 3 with EA 1.8 mg and 0.9 mg, respectively, and at week 5 with EA 0.45 mg. Vaginal pH and maturation index improved significantly in all EA groups versus placebo, and some signs and symptoms of vaginal atrophy improved at the EA 0.9- and 1.8-mg doses. Side effects were mild to moderate and consistent with estrogen therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral EA at all doses was well tolerated and significantly reduced the frequency and severity of postmenopause symptoms versus placebo.
Speroff
Leon
L
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
Haney
Arthur F
AF
Gilbert
Richard D
RD
Ellman
Herman
H
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States
D004958:Estradiol