Oral treatment of menopausal symptoms with natural oestrogens. Experiences with a new series of oestrogens and oestrogen-gestagen combinations.

A series of preparations containing 17-beta-oestradiol and oestriol in a proportion of 2 : 1 was studied with respect to their effects and side effects in 352 women in the menopause and postmenopause in a total of 2 101 woman months. In certain of the treated groups it was considered of value to produce regular bleeding, and in these patients the oestrogen therapy was complemented with noretisterone acetate during short periods. Both the subjective and the objective effects of the treatment were excellent. Side effects were rare and the treatment seems to have advantages over other oestrogenic compounds. No signs of disturbance of the liver function were observed. In contrast to the alkyl substituted steroids the natural oestrogens seem to have a normalising effect on the blood lipids.