Two hormone replacement therapy (HRT) regimens for middle-eastern postmenopausal women

Abstract

Most previous studies designed to evaluate the efficacy of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have been carried out in Europe, North America and Australia, involving Caucasian women for 6 months or less. Objectives: To evaluate the 12-month effects of two different HRT regimens on postmenopausal symptoms of Middle-Eastern women. Methods: Hundred healthy Libyan women with postmenopausal symptoms, 12 months or more since their last menstrual period, were enrolled in a 12-month prospective study. Participants were randomly prescribed one of the two formulations, 50 in each group. These regimens were a continuous regimen of tibolone 2.5 mg oral tablets and a continuous regimen of 17β-oestradiol sequentially combined with dydrogesterone (2/10 mg) oral tablets. The presence and severity of short- and intermediate-term symptoms were reported at 0, 3, 6 and 12 months of treatment. Observed symptoms were hot flushes, night sweating, palpitations, insomnia, depression, nervousness, loss of memory, vaginal dryness, loss of libido and joint pain. Results: Forty-nine women (98%) in each group completed the 12-month study period. Participants, in the two groups, experienced a significant improvement within the first 3 months of treatment. The observed symptoms were completely relived by the sixth month without any significant difference between the two groups. Improvements were sustained over the 12-month period of the study. HRT users showed their acceptance to the two regimens. Conclusions: Tibolone and 17β-oestradiol/dydrogesterone oral tablets were effective and safe to treat short- and intermediate-term symptoms in Middle-Eastern postmenopausal women, within 6 months, and with no significant differences between the groups. Thus, the use of HRT to relieve menopausal symptoms is highly recommended, at least in this region.