Population Council Research that makes a difference

Abstract

Vaginal rings delivering progesterone and estradiol may be a new method of hormone replacement therapy (HTML) 
Maruo,Takeshi; Mishell,Daniel R.,Jr.; Ben-Chetrit,Avraham; Hochner-Celnikier,Drorith; Hamada,Anna Lissa; Nash,Harold A.
Fertility and Sterility 78(5): 1010-1016
Publication date: 2002

---

Objective
To determine whether a low dose of P delivered together with E2 from a vaginal ring on a continuous schedule can prevent endometrial proliferation and yield a bleeding pattern dominated by amenorrhea.

Design
Longitudinal clinical study.

Setting
Three university hospitals.

Patient(s)
Fifty-five women 45 to 75 years of age, not hysterectomized, with E2 levels of <20 pg/mL and hot-flash incidence of two or more per day in the past week.

Intervention(s)
A vaginal ring delivering approximately 150 µg/d of 17ß-E2 and approximately 5 mg/d or approximately 9 mg/d of P used continuously for 4 and 6 months.

Main Outcome Measure(s)
Endometrial thickness, bleeding pattern, and hot flash incidence.

Result(s)
Endometrial proliferation was prevented by both P doses. Bleeding incidence decreased. In months 4, 5, and 6, 8 of 12 women had no bleeding. Incidence of hot flashes and night sweats decreased quickly and significantly.

Conclusion(s)
A vaginal ring delivering E2 and a low dose of P merits further study as a method for long-term hormone replacement therapy.

---