Two hormone replacement therapy (HRT) regimens for middle-eastern postmenopausal women

Most previous studies designed to evaluate the efficacy of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have been carried out in Europe, North America and Australia, involving Caucasian women for 6 months or less.

To evaluate the 12-month effects of two different HRT regimens on postmenopausal symptoms of Middle-Eastern women.

Hundred healthy Libyan women with postmenopausal symptoms, 12 months or more since their last menstrual period, were enrolled in a 12-month prospective study. Participants were randomly prescribed one of the two formulations, 50 in each group. These regimens were a continuous regimen of tibolone 2.5 mg oral tablets and a continuous regimen of 17beta-oestradiol sequentially combined with dydrogesterone (2/10 mg) oral tablets. The presence and severity of short- and intermediate-term symptoms were reported at 0, 3, 6 and 12 months of treatment. Observed symptoms were hot flushes, night sweating, palpitations, insomnia, depression, nervousness, loss of memory, vaginal dryness, loss of libido and joint pain.

Forty-nine women (98%) in each group completed the 12-month study period. Participants, in the two groups, experienced a significant improvement within the first 3 months of treatment. The observed symptoms were completely relived by the sixth month without any significant difference between the two groups. Improvements were sustained over the 12-month period of the study. HRT users showed their acceptance to the two regimens.

Tibolone and 17beta-oestradiol/dydrogesterone oral tablets were effective and safe to treat short- and intermediate-term symptoms in Middle-Eastern postmenopausal women, within 6 months, and with no significant differences between the groups. Thus, the use of HRT to relieve menopausal symptoms is highly recommended, at least in this region.