Effectiveness of early start of menopausal hormone therapy in the menopausal transition: comparative analysis of therapy

Objective: To optimize preventive and therapeutic measures aimed at reducing the severity of menopausal symptoms as well as preserving cognitive function to improve the quality of life in perimenopausal women.

Materials and methods: The study included 120 women aged 40–50 years with signs of primary hypoestrogenism. There were the following study groups: group 1 included patients who received systemic menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) in the form of a combination of 1 mg of estradiol/ 10 mg of dydrogesterone orally (n=30); group 2 consisted of patients receiving a combination of 1 mg of estradiol/10 mg of dydrogesterone orally and intramuscular injections of polypeptides of the pineal gland of cattle (10 mg, lyophilizate for intravenous administration) (n=30); group 3 included those who received 17-β estradiol transdermally in the form of a 0.06% gel in combination with 52 mg of LNG-IUD (n=30); group 4 consisted of patients who did not receive treatment (n=30). The duration of the study was 12 months. Baseline indicators were evaluated using the Greene climacteric scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Montreal Cognitive Assessment test and laboratory levels of nerve growth factor followed by dynamic control of these indicators on days 180 (6 months) and 360 (12 months).

Results: The frequency and severity of vasomotor symptoms in the group 1 were 0.79±0.68 and were reduced by 88.3% for 12 months in comparison with the baseline. Group 2 showed a decrease by 76.8%. Groups 1 and 2 showed a comparable decrease in overall menopausal indicators over 12 months; the decrease in vasomotor symptoms was less severe in group 3. According to the severity of depressive symptoms, the results of the follow-up showed a decrease by 49.9% (7.80±2.01 vs. 15.57±4.27) and 65.9% (5.90±2.08 vs. 17.30±5.85) respectively, in groups 1 and 2. In group 3 the decrease was less severe and amounted to 15.3% (11.86±4.01 vs. 14.00±4.31). Improvements were noted only in groups 1 and 2 in patients receiving fixed combined MHT. Groups 1 and 2 demonstrated an improvement in rheological properties of blood. There was positive dynamics of clotting parameters in both study groups.

Conclusion: Early initiation of cyclic combined MHT (1 mg of estradiol, 10 mg of dydrogesterone) contributed to the decrease of menopausal symptoms and restored cognitive function, however, this was not observed in the group of patients receiving transdermal therapy of 17-β estradiol in the form of a gel in combination with LNG-IUD or in the absence of therapy. Moreover, there was a positive dynamics of hemostasis indicators in patients receiving MHT with dydrogesterone. The obtained data make it possible to improve preventive and therapeutic measures, to personalize therapy for perimenopausal women.