Increase in bone mass after one year of percutaneous oestradiol and testosterone implants in post-menopausal women who have previously received long-term oral oestrogens.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect on the bone density of the skeleton after changing from oral oestrogen to subcutaneous oestradiol and testosterone replacement. DESIGN: Prospective non-randomized single centre study. SUBJECTS: Twenty women who were receiving long-term oral oestrogen replacement. Ten changed to oestradiol and testosterone implants; the remaining ten continued with oral oestrogens. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Bone density was measured using dual photon absorptiometry at the lumbar spine and neck of femur at the start of the study and after one year. RESULTS: The bone density increased significantly by 5.7% at the spine and by 5.2% at the neck of femur in those women who changed to implant therapy but remained unchanged in those women who continued with oral therapy. CONCLUSION: Subcutaneous oestradiol and testosterone implants will result in an increase in bone mass even after many years of oral oestrogen replacement therapy.