ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Natural oestrogen administration as oral or transdermal 17ß-estradiol is recommended for pubertal induction in girls with hypogonadism. However, suitable low-dose formulations are not consistently available globally. This questionnaire study aimed to identify the current availability of oestrogen and progesterone preparations worldwide. METHODS: Endorsed by the ESPE Turner Syndrome Working Group, the questionnaire targeted paediatric endocrinologists. Questions focused on accessibility of oral/transdermal 17ß-estradiol and progestogen preparations. Responses were collected through a SurveyMonkey survey disseminated via ESPE channels, direct outreach, and conferences from June 2020 to December 2022. RESULTS: Participation included 229 healthcare professionals from 45 countries. Oral and transdermal 17ß-estradiol in adult dosage was highly accessible (86.5% and 84.3%), with transdermal administration the preferred form (62.8%). Most commonly available estradiol preparations included 50 µg patches (32 countries) and 1 or 2 mg tablets (65.8% and 71.1% countries). However, 0.5 mg 17ß-estradiol tablets were available in only 20% of respondents from 8 countries. Patches delivering 14 or 25 µg/day of 17ß-estradiol were available in 3 and 20 countries, respectively. Oral progestogen had widespread availability (96.0%) and preference (87.0%), while transdermal usage was limited to 15.2% of respondents. CONCLUSION: This study highlights global challenges in accessing suitable hormone preparations for female pubertal induction. In most countries, the lowest dose of the estradiol is 50 µg for patches and 2 mg for tablets. Appropriate low-dose 17ß-estradiol tablets are much less available than low-dose patches. Our survey underscores the importance of adapting guidelines to local availability, and the need for improved accessibility to address these global disparities.
