Effect of hormone replacement therapies and selective estrogen receptor modulators in postmenopausal women with uterine leiomyomas: a literature review

Abstract

This systematic review examines current literature relating to clinical studies of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and tibolone, including selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) such as tamoxifen and raloxifene, and their usage in postmenopausal women with fibroids. After a MEDLINE search, 28 relevant articles were found in total, of which five concerned randomized controlled trials. The results from class I studies and class II studies are evaluated in the categories of those that involved tibolone only, those that involved HRT only, and those that involved SERMs such as tamoxifen and raloxifene. In conclusion, tibolone has no significant effect on myoma size in postmenopausal women. There is myoma growth in postmenopausal women taking HRT. However, this does not appear to cause clinical symptoms.