Abstract | BACKGROUND: Reduced circulating estrogen levels around the time of the menopause can induce unacceptable symptoms that affect the health and well-being of women. Hormone therapy (both unopposed estrogen and estrogen/ progestogen combinations) is an effective treatment for these symptoms, but is associated with risk of harms. Guidelines recommend that hormone therapy be given at the lowest effective dose and treatment should be reviewed regularly. The aim of this review is to identify the minimum dose(s) of progestogen required to be added to estrogen so that the rate of endometrial hyperplasia is not increased compared to placebo. OBJECTIVES: SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group trials register (searched January 2012), The Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2012), MEDLINE (1966 to January 2012), EMBASE (1980 to January 2012), Current Contents (1993 to May 2008), Biological Abstracts (1969 to 2008), Social Sciences Index (1980 to May 2008), PsycINFO (1972 to January 2012) and CINAHL (1982 to May 2008). Attempts were made to identify trials from citation lists of reviews and studies retrieved, and drug companies were contacted for unpublished data. SELECTION CRITERIA: DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: In this update, 46 studies were included. Odds ratios ( ORs) were calculated for dichotomous outcomes. The small numbers of studies in each comparison and the clinical heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis for many outcomes. MAIN RESULTS: AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS:
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Authors | Susan Furness, Helen Roberts, Jane Marjoribanks, Anne Lethaby |
Journal | The Cochrane database of systematic reviews
(Cochrane Database Syst Rev)
Issue 8
Pg. CD000402
(Aug 15 2012)
ISSN: 1469-493X [Electronic] England |
PMID | 22895916
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review, Systematic Review)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Drug Therapy, Combination
(methods, standards)
- Endometrial Hyperplasia
(chemically induced, prevention & control)
- Endometrial Neoplasms
(chemically induced, prevention & control)
- Estrogen Replacement Therapy
(adverse effects, standards)
- Estrogens
(administration & dosage)
- Female
- Humans
- Postmenopause
- Progestins
(administration & dosage)
- Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
- Uterine Hemorrhage
(chemically induced, prevention & control)
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