Endometrial and menstrual response to subcutaneous oestradiol and testosterone implants and continuous oral progestogen therapy in post-menopausal women

Abstract A regimen of subcutaneous implants of oestradiol and testosterone in combination with continuous oral norethisterone (0.35mg to 5mg daily) was used to treat 71 non-hysterectomised post-menopausal women for up to 30 mth in an attempt to avoid the withdrawal periods associated with conventional cyclical therapy, while at the same time protecting the endometrium from oestrogenic overstimulation. Amenorrhoea, defined as no vaginal bleeding for at least 3 mth, occurred immediately in 5.4–55.6% of women, the percentage depending on the daily dose of the progestogen. In those women who bled, the dose of norethisterone was adjusted at 3-mth intervals. Despite this protocol, only 51.0% of the patients were amenorrhonic after 6 mth, and 63.2% after 1 yr. Although eight women did develop amenorrhoea for 12–27 mth, there was a high drop-out rate by the others, mainly because of unacceptable irregular bleeding. Irrespective of the bleeding pattern, endometrial biopsies 6 mth after treatment revealed endometrial atrophy. It is concluded that this form of therapy is inferior to oral continuous combined hormone replacement where amenorrhoea can almost invariably be achieved.