Effects of dydrogesterone on the vascular system

Estrogens exert beneficial effects on the vascular system, while progestogens generally have a negative impact (e.g. vasoconstrictor effects on the arterial system). In contrast, dydrogesterone appears to be largely neutral in terms of biochemical markers and indirect clinical endpoints, such as blood pressure, that act as surrogate markers for vascular function. Studies on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, which can also influence vascular function, demonstrate that the addition of dydrogesterone intensifies rather than attenuates beneficial estrogenic effects. Dydrogesterone also has largely neutral effects on hemostasis. Since there are relatively few data available on clinical parameters such as blood flow measurements, especially in women with pre-existing cardiovascular diseases, increased risks cannot be excluded for a combination of estrogen replacement with dydrogesterone. Further studies should focus on this open question since dydrogesterone, with its largely neutral properties, might be a suitable option, including for older women already at increased cardiovascular risk.