Ultra-low dose – new approaches in menopausal hormone therapy

Abstract

Despite increasing life expectancy, the age of onset of natural menopause has not significantly changed in recent decades. Thus, women spend about one-third of their lives in an estrogen-deficient state if untreated. There is a need for appropriate treatment of acute symptoms and prevention of the sequelae of chronic estrogen deficiency. International guidelines call for the use of the lowest effective hormone dosage for vasomotor symptom relief, the major indication for menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). In 2011, an oral continuous combined ultra-low-dose MHT was approved in Switzerland. This publication was elaborated by eight national menopause specialists and intends to review the advantages and disadvantages of ultra-low-dose MHT after the first years of its general use in Switzerland. It concludes that, for many women, ultra-low-dose MHT may be sufficient to decrease vasomotor symptoms, but not necessarily to guarantee fracture prevention.

Key words::

• MENOPAUSE
• HORMONE THERAPY
• ULTRA-LOW DOSE
• ESTROGEN

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors thank PR-Schwegler AG, Agency for Health Care Communications Zürich, for preparing the figure material.

Conflict of interest The authors have been part of the Swiss expert board funded by Abbott AG.

Source of funding This publication was developed by a Swiss expert board and was funded by Abbott AG by an unrestricted grant without influence on the content.