Uterine Effects of Unopposed Estrogen Therapy in Menopausal Women

Unlike estrogen-progestin menopausal hormone therapy, estrogen-only therapy is associated with little, if any, increase in breast cancer risk (Journal Watch Women’s Health Jan 22 2003 and Feb 22 2007). These observations have prompted increased interest in using estrogen-only HT to alleviate menopausal symptoms. To examine the effects of estrogen-only HT on endometrial thickness and uterine bleeding, investigators performed a combined analysis of two clinical trials involving 218 women with intact uteri who were randomized to receive oral micronized estradiol (1 mg/day) or placebo for 2 or 3 years. After baseline assessment of endometrial thickness, women kept records of uterine bleeding and underwent annual transvaginal ultrasound examinat…