Effect of continuous combined estrogen and desogestrel hormone replacement therapy on serum lipids and lipoproteins.

Objective: To determine the effects of continuous combined hormone replacement therapy with desogestrel and 17β-estradiol (E2) on serum lipids and lipoproteins. Methods: Fifty-seven healthy postmenopausal women of less than 60 years of age were studied prospectively and treated with oral desogestrel 0.15 mg/day and micronized 17β-E2 1 mg/day, both taken continuously. Fasting venous blood samples for serum lipids and lipoproteins were taken before and after 6 and 12 months of treatment. Results: Thirty-two women completed the study. Levels of all serum lipids and lipoproteins fell significantly by 6 months and remained low at 12 months