title: [A French exception. Transdermal postmenopausal hormone therapy].
abstract: Estrogens are still the main option for the treatment of climacteric symptoms, especially hot flashes. Their effectiveness is also demonstrated in the prevention of osteoporosis. If the results of the Women's Health Initiative showing an unfavorable risk/benefit balance of hormone replacement therapy with long-term use, the recent results of epidemiological studies analyzing transdermal estrogenotherapy suggest a best tolerance. Regarding venous thrombosis risk, many biological and epidemiological data suggest a safe tolerance of transdermal estrogens use. On the contrary, the risk of breast cancer and arterial does not appear to be modified by the route of administration of estrogens. Recent studies on colorectal cancer risks seem quite favorable to the transdermal route. These data are fundamental to assess the short-term risk-benefit balance that appears on the current available data favorable to the transdermal route of administration.
authors.affiliation: Unité de gynécologie endocrinienne, Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu, AP-HP, 75004 Paris. genevieve.plu-bureau@htd.aphp.fr
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Plu-Bureau
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D011374:Progesterone