Evaluation of a continuous combined low-dose regimen of estrogen-progestin for treatment of the menopausal patient.

Menopause constitutes a sizable proportion of the adult women's life, and it is reasonable to consider that most women will benefit from hormone-replacement therapy. Also, it is important to realize that cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and death in the menopausal patient. Two regimens of hormone-replacement therapy were evaluated in postmenopausal women with 0.625 mg of conjugated equine estrogen with either 2.5 or 5 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate taken continuously for 52 weeks in 92 patients. The data demonstrated an improvement in menopausal symptoms, a beneficial effect in lipoprotein profiles, the establishment of an atrophic endometrium, and a marked decrease in vaginal bleeding after 13 weeks and a further decrease after 26 weeks. Ideally this regimen will offer better patient compliance and, if the favorable lipoprotein profiles offer protection to the cardiovascular system, the overall health of the American woman will be markedly affected.