Efficacy of pulsed estrogen therapy in relatively younger patients with surgically induced menopause

• Published in: Human reproduction (Oxford) Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 210 - 213
• Main Authors: Yesildaglar, N., Erkaya, S., Uygur, D., Göl, K., Bingöl, B., Günenç, Z.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01-01-2004; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Embryology: invertebrates and vertebrates. Teratology; Estrogen Replacement Therapy - methods; Estrogens - administration & dosage; Estrogens - adverse effects; Female; Flushing - drug therapy; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures - adverse effects; Humans; Menopause; menopause/pulsed estrogen therapy/surgically induced menopause; Nebulizers and Vaporizers; Patient Satisfaction; Pulse Therapy, Drug; Treatment Outcome; menopause/pulsed estrogen therapy/surgically induced menopause; Human; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Menopause; Estrogen; Sex steroid hormone; Ovarian hormone
• ISSN: 0268-1161; 1460-2350; 1460-2350
• DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deh011

BACKGROUND: Pulsed estrogen therapy is a new approach in estrogen replacement therapy. We carried out a prospective study to evaluate the efficacy of pulsed estrogen therapy in relatively younger patients with surgically induced menopause. METHODS: Patients (n = 138) <45 years old and suffering from severe vasomotor symptoms secondary to surgically induced menopause were included in the study. After the initiation of pulsed estrogen therapy (300 µg/day), the patients were re‐evaluated every 4 weeks. The dose was increased at each follow‐up, if necessary (to a maximum of 600 µg/day). The patients who preferred another method after the first 12 weeks were prescribed oral conjugated estrogen (0.625 mg/day) and at the end of the second 12 weeks their satisfaction levels were assessed. RESULTS: At the end of the first 12 weeks, 26 patients were completely satisfied (18.8%) and 47 were moderately satisfied (34.1%), whereas 65 concluded that the pulsed estrogen therapy they received was ineffective (47.1%). At the end of the second 12 weeks, all the patients were completely satisfied. CONCLUSION: Pulsed estrogen therapy for 12 weeks reduced the frequency of hot flushes in relatively younger patients with surgically induced menopause; however, 81.2% of patients were not completely satisfied at the end of this period.