The Effects of Continuous Combined Oral Estradiol and Norethisterone on Pulsatility Index in Internal Carotid and Uterine Arteries in Early Postmenopausal Taiwanese Women—A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Objective: This study analyzed whether continuous combined oral estradiol and norethisterone had any effect on the pulsatility index (PI) of the internal carotid and uterine arteries in Taiwanese early postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: A group of 40 healthy postmenopausal women with no history of hormone therapy (HT) participated in this study and were randomly subdivided into two groups: HT treatment group (n = 20) and placebo group (n = 20). PI was evaluated with color Doppler ultrasound at the beginning of the study and after 4 months of HT (2 mg 17 β-estradiol + 1 mg norethisterone acetate) or placebo. Results: There was no significant change in the PI of the internal carotid and the uterine arteries after 4 months of HT. Conclusion: This HT regimen showed no significant negative impact on vascular resistance in Taiwanese early postmenopausal women. Results are compatible with the updated recommendations on HT stating that there is little cardiovascular risk when HT is initiated within a few years of the menopause.

Keywords

• estradiol
• estrogen/progesterone therapy
• hormone therapy
• menopause
• norethisterone
• postmenopause
• pulsatility index