EFFECTS OF A NEW ESTROGEN-PROGESTIN COMBINATION IN THE TREATMENT OF POSTMENOPAUSAL SYNDROME

Postmenopausal women were randomly given either oral calcium (500 mg/day, control group, n = 12) or a combination of estradiol valerate (EV, 2 mg/day for 21 days) with cyproterone acetate (CPA, 1 mg/day in the last 10 days of the treatment cycle, n = 19). EV+CPA reduced (P < 0.01) postmenopausal complaints, inducing regular withdrawal bleeds, with no hysteroscopic or hystologic evidence of endometrial hyperstimulation after 12 months of treatment. In the control group, spine bone mineral density (BMD) and the total body bone mineral (TBBM) decreased (P < 0.01), whereas urinary hydroxyproline excretion (OH-P/Cr), plasma bone Gla Protein (BGP) and lipid profile did not show any significant modification throughout the study. In the EV+CPA group, urinary OHP/Cr and plasma BGP levels decreased (P < 0.01) after 6 and 12 months, whereas both BMD and TBBM showed a small but significant (P < 0.01) increase, In this group, LDL cholesterol significantly (P < 0.01) decreased and HDL levels significantly (P < 0.01) increased after 6 and 12 months. In conclusion, the EV+CPA combination is effective in relieving menopausal symptoms, produces a good cycle control and a favourable lipid profile, preventing postmenopausal bone resorption.