Efficacy, acceptability, and metabolic effects of transdermal estradiol in the management of postmenopausal women.

Systemic side effects that result from oral administration of estrogens to postmenopausal women may be minimized by use of the transdermal route. We administered transdermal estradiol, 0.05 mg/day, cyclically for 3 months to 12 postmenopausal and perimenopausal women to study the efficacy, acceptability, and metabolic effects of this dosage form. The results showed that transdermal estradiol significantly increased plasma levels of estradiol and estrone and urinary concentrations of estradiol conjugates, and produced significant improvement in menopausal symptoms and vaginal cytologic findings. The patches were well tolerated and no systemic side effects were reported. No clinically significant adverse biochemical changes were observed. Plasma renin substrate and renin activity were unchanged during therapy.