Effects of an oestrogen only and oestrogen progestin regimen of hormone replacement therapy on lipid profile in postmenopausal women

ABSTRACT

Hormone replacement therapy [HRT], is known to be accompanied by changes in blood lipid profile. The use of a progestin in addition to oestrogen is believed to negate or attenuate the effects of oestrogen on lipids and lipoproteins. In this study, we compared the lipid profiles of two groups of postmenopausal women who had been using the two different types of regimens of HRT. Each group consisted of twenty women. The first group of women consisted of women who had undergone surgical menopause and were using an oestrogen only HRT [Premarin]. The second group consisted of women who had undergone natural menopause and were on a combined, sequential regimen of oestrogen and progestin [Progyluton]. For each group, total cholesterol, triglycerides, VLDL-C, LDLC, HDL-C, ratio were estimated. Certain difference were observed in these parameters of the two groups but statistical analysis showed no significant. Thus our study indicated that the presence of a progestin in HRT may have some effects on lipid profile, but it does not alter it significantly