Percutaneous estrogen replacement therapy. Effects on circulating estrogens, gonadotropins and prolactin.

A percutaneous gel containing 0.6 mg/g of estradiol-17 beta was used for cyclic replacement therapy in 19 postmenopausal women. Significantly increased serum concentrations of estradiol-17 beta, unconjugated estrone, and total estrone were recorded during 6 months of treatment. In contrast to oral treatment the quotient of estrone/estradiol-17 beta was maintained and even reduced during therapy. Significant gonadotropin inhibition was recorded and the estrogenic potency of 3 mg percutaneous estradiol-17 beta was similar to that of oral estradiol-17 beta 2 mg and 2.5 mg oral estrone sulphate. Prolactin levels remained constant during treatment. Therapy was effective in abolishing hot flushes in 17 out of the 19 women treated. The therapy was well accepted by the volunteers. Seventeen out of 19 women stated that the gel was easy to use in everyday life. Topic application may develop into an alternative treatment for climacteric complaints and may even have some metabolic advantages over oral treatment.