No adverse effects of medroxyprogesterone treatment without estrogen in postmenopausal women: double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial

  • Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre ROR
  • University of British Columbia ROR

Obstetrics and Gynecology, 83(1), 24-28

Source

Abstract

Objective

To determine whether cyclic medroxyprogesterone treatment given without estrogen causes adverse symptoms in postmenopausal women.

Methods

This was a placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover trial of 10 days/month of medroxyprogesterone and placebo treatments given during 2 consecutive months in random order. Participants recorded their physiologic and emotional experiences on a 0-4 scale using a daily diary form. Eleven postmenopausal women aged 43-63 completed the study. The subjects were not taking hormones. Height, weight, and serum estradiol concentration were measured once. In each woman, the sum of scores for the 10 days of medroxyprogesterone was compared to the sum of scores for the 10 days of placebo using nonparametric tests.

Results

No significant differences in scores were found between the 10 days on medroxyprogesterone and the 10 days on placebo. The median and range for the composite scores for premenstrual-like symptoms were 26 (20-67) during medroxyprogesterone and 25 (19-40) during placebo (P = .39).

Conclusions

Medroxyprogesterone given alone does not cause adverse symptoms in postmenopausal women. Therefore, medroxyprogesterone therapy, by itself, cannot explain the side effects reported by postmenopausal women taking combined hormones.

Topics

medroxyprogesterone without estrogen postmenopausal women adverse effects, Prior JC medroxyprogesterone placebo-controlled crossover trial, progesterone therapy alone postmenopausal symptoms safety, cyclic medroxyprogesterone postmenopausal double-blind placebo crossover, progestogen monotherapy postmenopausal women side effects, medroxyprogesterone premenstrual-like symptoms postmenopausal women, combined hormone therapy side effects progestogen attribution, medroxyprogesterone without estrogen emotional physiologic experiences, postmenopausal hormone therapy progestogen-only safety randomized, progesterone alone menopause treatment no adverse symptoms

Cite this article

Prior, J. C., Alojado, N., McKay, D. W., & Vigna, Y. M. (1994). No adverse effects of medroxyprogesterone treatment without estrogen in postmenopausal women: double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. *Obstetrics and gynecology*, *83*(1), 24-28.

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