Long-term effects of two different continuous combined regimens of hormone replacement therapy on well-being

• Our aim was to compare the effect on well-being of two different continuous combined hormone replacement therapies (HRT) in women starting treatment (‘starters’) and women switching from mainly sequential HRT (‘switchers’). The design was a randomized, double-blind, 1-year, prospective study, including 249 postmenopausal women treated with 0.625 mg conjugated estrogen (CE)/ 5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) or 2 mg estradiol/1 mg norethisterone acetate (NETA) continuously. The main outcome measure was well-being, reported daily on a validated symptom scale during treatment cycles 1, 2, 6 and 13. Both treatment groups, starters and switchers, improved significantly in episodes of sweating during the first 6 months (p50.05). Women treated with estradiol/NETA experienced more breast tenderness compared to women using CE/MPA during the whole study period (p50.001), whereas there were no differences in negative mood symptoms between treatment groups. Starters experienced improved wellbeing during the whole study, whereas switchers experienced a transient improvement during the first 2 months. Overall, negative mood symptoms were more frequently reported by women with a history of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) (p50.05). Progestogen side-effects were more pronounced with estradiol/NETA than with CE/MPA combinations. Individual factors, such as previous PMS and previous HRT use, should be taken into consideration when prescribing HRT.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Reproduktionsmedicin och gynekologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Double-Blind Method

Drug Administration Schedule

Estradiol/administration & dosage

Estrogen Replacement Therapy

Estrogens; Conjugated (USP)/administration & dosage

Female

Humans

Medroxyprogesterone 17-Acetate/administration & dosage

Menopause/*psychology

Middle Aged

Norethindrone/administration & dosage/*analogs & derivatives

Prospective Studies

Quality of Life

Sweden

Obstetrics and gynaecology

Obstetrik och gynekologi

obstetrik och gynekologi

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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