Menopause news

News from the journals 2005: A safer way to give progestogen?

2005

Recent studies have demonstrated a difference in risks between different types
of HRT with respect to both breast cancer and cardiovascular disease; oestrogen
only now thought to be of even lower risk than oestrogen combined with progestogen.
Increased interest has therefore focussed on methods of minimising exposure
to systemic progestogen while maintaining protection of the lining of the
womb (endometrium) from oestrogenic stimulation. A study reported in Climacteric
assessed the acceptability of a small intrauterine progestogen releasing
system used along with an oestrogen patch in postmenopausal women. The report
of the 3 year study showed that the intrauterine system was easy to inset,
well tolerated, gave good protection of the endometrium and blood tests showed
beneficial effects of oestrogen on lipids with minimal detrimental effect
of progestogen. Increasing use of different routes of progestogen such as
this may allow women to continue to benefit from oestrogen while minimising
risk.

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