Effects of transdermal estradiol gel and oral tibolone on health-related quality of life after surgical menopause.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of 6 months of treatment with transdermal estradiol gel versus oral tibolone on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after surgical menopause.


METHODS
In a randomized single-blind trial, Indian women received either oral tibolone tablets (2.5 mg) or transdermal estradiol gel (0.06%) daily. Each woman scored herself on the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) II at the beginning of the study and after 6 months. Independent t tests were used to determine the significance of changes in HRQOL.


RESULTS
In total, 31 (81.6%) women who received estradiol gel and 38 (100.0%) women who received tibolone completed treatment. Intent-to-treat analysis showed that, after 6 months of treatment, the total MRS score was significantly reduced in the tibolone group compared with the transdermal estradiol gel group (-9.5+/-5.1 versus -4.9+/-5.7; 95% confidence interval, 2.0-7.0; P<0.01). Significant improvements were also noted in the tibolone group in terms of somatovegetative (P=0.04) and psychologic (P<0.01) domains.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral tibolone treatment was more effective than transdermal estradiol gel at improving HRQOL in Indian women with surgical menopause.
Bhattacharya
Sudhindra M
SM
KPC Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, India. drsudhindra54@gmail.com
Jha
Ayan
A
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008594:Menopause, Premature / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011788:Quality of Life; D016037:Single-Blind Method
D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D004967:Estrogens; D009652:Norpregnenes; D004958:Estradiol; C027385:tibolone