Circulating lipid and lipoprotein concentrations with oral estrogen-androgen hormone replacement therapy.

The goal of this study was to determine whether the administration of an oral combined estrogen-androgen preparation would influence the lipid and lipoprotein profile of postmenopausal women. There were no pretreatment to posttreatment differences in triglycerides, total cholesterol, or in low density lipoproteins and very low density lipoproteins. However, high density lipoprotein values decreased significantly after treatment. Although further study is warranted, these preliminary findings suggest that the potential beneficial effects of oral estrogen-androgen on sexual and psychological well-being may need to be weighed against the possible cardiovascular risks of adverse lipid changes in postmenopausal women.