Comparison of two equine oestrogen-dydrogesterone regimens in the climacteric

Menopausal women receiving 0.625 mg/day conjugated oestrogen continuously for 6 mth were also given either 10 mg/day dydrogesterone continuously or 20 mg/day for the first 12 days of each calendar month in order to evaluate both the efficacy and the tolerance of each regimen. The following parameters were assessed: subjective symptoms, bleeding patterns, lipid metabolism, glycaemia, weight and blood pressure. Of the 81 patients who entered the study, 60 opted for the continuous treatment and 21 for the cyclic treatment. Seven (7) patients dropped out, 6 for administrative reasons and 1 because of nausea. The two groups were comparable with regard to all parameters, with the exception of the duration of pretreatment amenorrhoea, which was longer in the continuous-treatment group (40.6 vs. 19.1 mth), and the initial lipid profile levels, which were higher in the same group. The subjective symptoms were influenced rapidly and positively by both treatments. The other parameters remained unchanged, except for a clinically insignificant rise in triglycerides in both groups. Both treatments were quite satisfactorily accepted by the patients, in spite of a 70% rate of withdrawal bleeding in the cyclic group and a 40% rate of spotting in the continuous-treatment group. Sixty-two (62) patients remained free of side effects, while mastodynia was reported in 9 cases.