[Treatment of the climacteric symptom complex with a new combined hormone preparation]

A total of 387 women with severe climacteric complaints were treated for a period of 4 years with a new combined hormone preparation containing 200 mg DHEAO (dehydroepiandrosterone oenanthate) and 4 mg oestradiol valerate in 1 ml oily solution. As a depot preparation it has a duration of action of about 6 weeks when administered parenterally. The therapeutic effect is as good as that of the known androgen-oestrogen combinations. There were no observations of voice changes or hirsutism as signs of virilisation. Hormone-cytological studies in all cases showed that proliferation of the endometrium in the sense of hyperplasia cannot be induced by the administered hormones. Cytologically, there is no evidence at all for an androgenic effect. With the exception of transient mastodynia, no mammary changes were observed. Curettage must be performed in existing or suddenly occurring bleeding disturbances, and continuous cytological and hormone-cytological studies are advisable.