J Korean Soc Menopause.  2012 Aug;18(2):113-118.

Effects of Transdermal Estrogen Gel in Postmenopausal Korean Women

• Choi DS
• Lee DY
• Yoon BK

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.

Keyword

Administration cutaneous; Hormone replacement therapy; Menopause

MeSH Terms

Amino Acids
Body Weight
Bone Density
Breast
C-Reactive Protein
Cholesterol
Estrogens
Fasting
Female
Femur Neck
Fibrinogen
Glucose
Headache
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Humans
Lipoprotein(a)
Menopause
Retrospective Studies
Skin
Spine
Waist Circumference
Amino Acids
C-Reactive Protein
Cholesterol
Estrogens
Fibrinogen
Glucose
Lipoprotein(a)

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Change of global score after 3 months of transdermal hormone therapy (HT). Paired t-test shows that global score decreases significantly after HT.

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  Fig. 2 Changes of metabolic parameters after transdermal hormone therapy. (A) total cholesterol, (B) low-density lipoprotein, (C) fasting glucose, (D) deoxypyridinoline. *P < 0.05 by repeated measures analysis of variance compared with the baseline value.

• 

  Fig. 3 Percent changes of bone mineral density from baseline after transdermal hormone therapy. *P < 0.05 by repeated measures analysis of variance compared with the baseline value.

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