Continuous treatment with natural oestrogens and progestogens. A method to avoid endometrial stimulation

Treatment of menopausal symptoms with a combination of natural oestrogens (17beta-oestradiol and oestriol) and a gestagen (norethisterone acetate), given continuously without interruption, has been found to have a good effect on menopausal symptoms, at the same time as the endometrium is maintained or brought to an atrophic state. This method seems to be a new approach to oestrogenic therapy, and in spite of the inconvenience of rather frequent--though as a rule very slight--bleeding during the first months of treatment, it should be of value. After 3-4 mth of treatment bleeding practically never occurs and the endometrium almost invariably becomes completely atrophic. It would seem that this might imply a lowered risk of development of endometrial cancer. A series of 265 patients treated in accordance with this principle for up to more and than 4 yr is presented.