Carbohydrate metabolism and hormonal replacement therapy: problems and clinical results

Substitution treatment with a biphasic hormone combination (Cyclacur) was administered to twenty women in menopause. Nine of these had undergone hysterectomy and/or ovarectomy. The experimental cycle consisted of a daily dose of 2 mg estradiol valerianate as estrogen for 11 days, the identical dose of estrogen plus 0.5 mg dl-norgestrel as gestagen for 10 days, and a 7-day medication-free period. An initial placebo cycle was administered, followed by 7 experimental cycles and one final placebo cycle. Laboratory tests were carried out regularly. There were no significant changes during the investigation in serum lipids, blood sugar values, or serum enzyme tests used as parameters of hepatic function. Of the hematological parameters a moderate rise in hematocrit was observed. There was no change in serum protein-bound iodine.