Effects of Transdermal Estrogen Gel in Postmenopausal Korean Women / 대한폐경학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of transdermal estrogen gel on postmenopausal Korean women. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 49 healthy postmenopausal women were treated with transdermal gel (0.1%, 1.5 mg/day +/- progestogen) for 1 year. After 3 months of transdermal hormone therapy (HT), deviations from baseline of the global index for menopausal symptoms and the frequency of side effects were evaluated. Anthropometric factors including weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and metabolic parameters (such as serum cholesterol, lipoprotein(a), fasting glucose, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, and deoxypyridinoline levels) were measured at baseline and after three, six, and twelve months of HT. In addition, bone mineral density was also measured at the lumbar spine and femoral neck at baseline and after six and twelve months of HT. Differences between baseline values and subsequent post-HT measurements were compared. RESULTS: After 3 months of transdermal HT, the global index for menopausal symptoms decreased significantly (P < 0.001). Side effects within 3 months included problems related to the breast, which were most common (32.1%), followed by headache (17.8%) and skin irritation (14.3%). Anthropometric factors did not change after HT, however, metabolic parameters creased significantly. There was a notable increase in bone mineral density at the lumbar spinebut not at the femoral neck. CONCLUSION: Transdermal gel HT improves menopausal symptoms and metabolic parameters in postmenopausal Korean women and increases bone mineral density at the lumbar spine.