Effects of two years' estrogen-gestagen replacement on climacteric symptoms and gonadotropins in the early postmenopausal period

Abstract

The effects of estrogen/gestagen (e/g) treatment given in a 28-day cycle (Trisequens forteR, Novo) on menopausal symptoms and plasma concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were studied in a placebo trial. 119 normal women in the early postmenopausal period with mild to moderate climacteric complaints were included. At 3-month intervals for 2 years the participants were examined and filled in questionnaires containing the 11 symptoms of the Kupperman index (10). For each symptom a score was given. In the e/g group 77% (43/56) completed the trial compared with 83% (54/63) in the control group. A total of 61% of the women complained of hot flushes and from 9% to 44% complained of the remaining 10 Kupperman symptoms. At all eight examinations e/g treatment was found to have reduced the symptom score as well as the proportion of women with hot flushes, paresthesia, insomnia, nervousness, vertigo and formication. The symptom score of hot flushes and insomnia declined significantly (p less than 0.01). In the 24 women with hot flushes and in the 19 without, e/g caused similar reduction in the mean score of the other 10 symptoms. No placebo effect was seen. E/g caused a significant (p less than 0.01) fall in the elevated plasma concentrations of FSH and LH. Vaginal bleeding was regular in 38/43 and irregular in 4/43 women during hormone treatment. No serious side effects were attributed to e/g therapy. It is concluded that e/g treatment, in addition to its beneficial effects on hot flushes and insomnia, also alleviates several other climacteric symptoms.