Effects of hormone therapy with estrogen and/or progesterone on sleep pattern in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of estrogen and progesterone on sleep in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
The 33 participants were randomly assigned to an estrogen or placebo group after undergoing clinical and hormonal assessments and a polysomnogram, and they underwent the same tests again after 12 weeks. Then, while still taking estrogen or placebo, they all received progesterone for another 12 weeks and underwent a final polysomnogram.


RESULTS
Estrogen plus progesterone was more effective than estrogen alone in decreasing the prevalence of periodic limb movement (PLM) (8.1% vs 2.8%), hot flashes (14.2% vs 0%), and bruxism (11.1% vs 0%) at night, or somnolence and attention difficulty during the day. The prevalences of breathing irregularities, arousal from sleep, anxiety, and memory impairment were decreased in both groups following progesterone treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
While not significantly affecting sleep quality, hormone therapy decreased the prevalence of arousal in both groups and that of PLM in the group treated with estrogen plus progesterone.
Hachul
Helena
H
Department of Gynecology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, Brazil. helenahachul@psicobio.epm.br
Bittencourt
Lia R A
LR
Andersen
Monica L
ML
Haidar
Mauro A
MA
Baracat
Edmund C
EC
Tufik
Sergio
S
D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020189:Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D017286:Polysomnography; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011372:Progestins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004967:Estrogens; D011372:Progestins; D011374:Progesterone