J Menopausal Med.  2019 Dec;25(3):123-129. 10.6118/jmm.19205.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Tibolone and Transdermal Estrogen in Treating Menopausal Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. cyberpelvis@gmail.com

Abstract


OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to compare the efficacy of tibolone and transdermal estrogen in treating menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women with an intact uterus.
METHODS
Overall, 26 women consumed tibolone orally and 31 women received transdermal estrogen gel mixed with progestogen. The menopause rating scale (MRS) was used to assess their menopausal symptoms at their first outpatient visit and 6 months later.
RESULTS
The transdermal estrogen group showed significant improvements in more items of the MRS questionnaire. There was a favorable change in body weight in the transdermal estrogen group compared with that in the tibolone group. Depressive mood, irritability, physical and mental exhaustion, sexual and bladder problems, and joint and muscular discomfort improved only in the transdermal estrogen group, whereas heart discomfort and vaginal dryness improved only in the tibolone group. Nevertheless, the intergroup differences in each item were insignificant after adjusting for body mass index and hypertension, which differed before treatment.
CONCLUSIONS
Both the therapeutic options improved menopausal symptoms within 6 months of use. However, transdermal estrogen appeared to be more effective in preventing weight gain in menopausal women than tibolone.

Keyword

Hormone replacement therapy; Menopause; Tibolone; Transdermal estrogens

MeSH Terms

Body Mass Index
Body Weight
Estrogens*
Female
Heart
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Humans
Hypertension
Joints
Menopause
Outpatients
Urinary Bladder
Uterus
Weight Gain
Estrogens

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