Effect of estrogen therapy on climacteric symptoms and tissue changes.

Abstract

Abstract. Estrogen substitution for 50 castrated women consisted of estriol succinate and for another 50 women of estradiol valerate. The daily dose in both groups was 2 mg, given for six months starting one month after castration. The patients generally developed strong vegetative symptoms after oophorectomy. Five patients failed to respond to estriol succinate and one to estradiol valerate. The effect of estrogen therapy on the vaginal smear and the skin was also studied in these six cases. An estrogen effect, though often fairly weak, in the vaginal smear was observed. Total urinary estrogens were high in all the cases after three and six months of estrogen therapy. The epidermis was significantly thickened after three months of estrogen except in one case. There was generally no significant difference between the 3‐month and 6‐month skin specimens. Ostensibly ineffective estrogen subsitution may thus play a role in the prevention of postmenopausal degenerative changes. The effect of estrogen therapy on the vegetative symptoms alone should not be regarded as the yardstick of its efficacy.