Menopause news

Tibolone (Livial) risk in older women.

15 August 2008

New information has become available about the effects of the HRT preparation tibolone (Livial) from the LIFT study, a randomised trial of tibolone in older postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Tibolone is a period free (continuous combined) preparation which differs from other types of HRT in its components, having estrogenic, progestogenic and androgenic (testosterone-like) activity. It is often used in women who's periods have stopped and are having menopausal symptoms, being particularly helpful for those with reduced libido because of the androgenic component.

The study showed that tibolone reduced the risk of osteoporotic fracture and reduced the risk of breast cancer, compared to women not taking HRT. There was an increased risk of stroke, but this was mainly in the women who were aged over 70 years, who had 3.1 extra cases per 1,000, compared to 1.8 extra per 1,000 in those aged 60-69 years.

It is unusual for women aged more than 70 years to take HRT, but if women choose to continue HRT at an older age, options other than tibolone should be considered.

For a statement from the British Menopause Society, visit http://www.thebms.org.uk/newsitem.php?newsid=34

A statement from the International Menopause Society is available on www.imsociety.org and the original paper is available on http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/359/7/697

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