[A transdermal therapeutic system for hormonal therapy of climacteric deficiency pictures. A multicenter study]

In an open study 112 women with menopausal symptoms were treated with a transdermal therapeutic system delivering estradiol at a rate of 25, 50 or 100 micrograms per day resp. The study, which was to measure the therapeutic efficacy and systemic and local tolerability, lasted 3 months. At the end of the treatment period 46% of the women were completely free of symptoms and a further 46% very much improved. In 64% the hot flushes disappeared entirely and in the remaining women their frequency and intensity, with a few exceptions, were markedly diminished. Nocturnal bouts of sweating were completely prevented in 67% of those complaining of this symptom. Pollakiuria improved in 93%. Before commencement of the therapy 24 patients felt unwell; during the study only two. The proportion of women who felt well or very well rose from 36% to 83%. The systemic tolerability was rated good or excellent by 97% of patients and in no case was it rated poor. Blood pressure and body weight were not affected. The local tolerability was considered good or very good by 80% of the women; it was poor in 5 cases (4.6%) and only in one case did it lead to discontinuation of the therapy. Ninety percent of the participants wanted to continue treatment beyond the duration of the study.