[Comparative evaluation of oral versus non-oral hormonal treatments in menopause]

Hormonal replacement therapies of postmenopause have proven their beneficial effects on symptoms correction and on the decrease in bone loss. As far as cardiovascular disease risk is concerned, the epidemiologic trials that suggested a protective effect from estrogen therapy considered mainly the oral route. However, a positive effect of estradiol has been demonstrated on several surrogate markers for cardiovascular risk whether it is administered orally or parenterally. As regards the progestins, the type of molecules prescribed appears more relevant than the route of administration, the beneficial effects of estrogens being unaffected by the non-androgenic progestagens.