Use of a new transdermal delivery system for estrogen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women.

This study reports on the use of a new transdermal delivery system for estrogen replacement therapy. This was a 12 week open multicenter trial using patches that delivered 0.05 mg/24 hour of 17 beta-estradiol applied twice weekly, every 72 hours, with one week interval after each 3 weeks. Results indicate an overall significant improvement on climacteric complaints with a highly significant and time-related reduction in the two most frequent symptoms: hot flushes and night sweating. Neither local nor systemic side effects were prevalent. By the end of treatment mean plasma levels of estradiol and FSH were 50.6 pg/ml and 46.8 mIU/ml, respectively. It is concluded that this new system of transdermal estrogen replacement therapy significantly reduces the main postmenopausal symptoms, produces adequate plasma estradiol levels and allows good compliance to treatment.