Research
Subcutaneous estrogen replacement therapy.
Jones SC.
Journal of Reproductive Medicine March, 2004; 49(3):139-142.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keesler Medical Center, Keesler Air
Force Base, Mississippi 39534, USA
Subcutaneous estrogen replacement involves placement of estradiol pellets in the subcutaneous area of the lower abdomen or buttocks. Physiologic levels of estradiol are obtained, and follicle stimulating hormone levels are suppressed, similar to values found during premenopause. Insertion is a minor office procedure, with the usual starting dose of 25 mg of estradiol placed; it provides climacteric symptom relief and osteoporosis protection as well as the many other benefits of estrogen replacement. Supplementation with testosterone pellets can be performed, if indicated, at the same time. Patients with an intact uterus require progesterone therapy to protect the endometrium, as do patients using other forms of estrogen replacement. Return of climacteric symptoms, combined with serum levels, can be used to determine the timing of redosing, which is about every 6 months for most patients.
25 mg oestradiol implants--the dosage of first choice for subcutaneous oestrogen
replacement therapy?
Owen EJ, Siddle NC, McGarrigle HT, Pugh MA.
British Journal of Ob/Gyn, 1992, Aug.99(8):671-5.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College and Middlesex
Hospitals, London, UK.
Ten of the 12 women had excellent symptom relief, associated with oestradiol
concentrations in the follicular range for between 28 and 35 weeks. The ratio
of circulating oestrogen metabolites remained physiological, despite the oestradiol
concentrations being substantially higher on treatment. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest
that 25 mg pellets should be used as the initial dose for subcutaneous oestrogen
treatment, and a combination of return of symptoms and weeks since insertion
used to judge the timing of reimplantation.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of 25-mg estradiol implants in postmenopausal
Mexican women. Menopause 2001 September, (5):353
del Carmen Cravioto M, Larrea F, Delgado NE, Escobar AR, Diaz-Sanchez V, Dominguez
J, de Leon RP.
Serum concentrations of E2 obtained after implantation were fairly constant…and
were associated with significant symptom relief. A physiological, premenopausal
E2:E1 ratio was achieved. No significant metabolic changes occurred. Side effects
were estrogenic in nature and no removal of implant was required. CONCLUSIONS:
Subcutaneous implantation of 25 mg estradiol results in physiological, premenopausal
estrogen concentrations in most women and is associated with considerable symptom
relief without inducing significant adverse metabolic effects.
Continuation of hormone replacement therapy after hysterectomy.
Domoney C, Studd JW, Mocroft A. Climacteric. 2003 Mar;6(1):58-66.
A high HRT continuation rate of between 95% (women having had their hysterectomy
less than 5 years ago) and 84% (women 10 or more years from their operation)
can be achieved in the long term. Considering the high proportion having implant
therapy, the use of testosterone as well as estradiol replacement may be a
major factor in the greater adherence to HRT of this group.
Five-year changes in bone density, and their relationship to plasma estradiol
and pretreatment bone density, in an older population of postmenopausal women
using long-term estradiol implants.
Vashisht A, Studd JW. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2003 Dec;17(6):463-70.
The aim of this study was to observe whether bone mineral density (BMD) improves over 5 years in older women using estradiol implants 60.9 years (range 59.7-63.2 years). Each woman had a pretreatment bone scan and then received 6-monthly subcutaneous 50 mg estradiol implants. All changes at the hip and spine were statistically significant improvements from baseline in the estradiol-treated group. After 5 years of treatment, the estradiol-treated group had significantly improved bone mineral densities compared with the untreated group. Thus estrogen is seen to have the effect of improving bone density in older women over 5 years of treatment
Androgen replacement therapy: present and future.
Gooren LJ, Bunck MC Drugs. 2004;64(17):1861-91.
Natural testosterone is viewed
as the best androgen for substitution in hypogonadal men. The reason behind
the selection is that testosterone can be converted to DHT and E2, thus developing
the full spectrum of testosterone activities in long-term substitution….Subcutaneous
testosterone implants provide the patient, depending on the dose of implants,
with normal plasma testosterone for 3-6 months….Administration of testosterone
to young individuals has almost no adverse effects.
Obstet Gynecol. 1987 Nov;70(5):749-54. Metabolic and hormonal effects of
25-mg and 50-mg 17 beta-estradiol implants in surgically menopausal women.
Notelovitz M, Johnston M, Smith S, Kitchens C.
" Subcutaneous estradiol pellets can effectively maintain the bone mineral
content of surgically menopausal women without inducing adverse cardiovascular
side
effects."
Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1980 Nov 15;138(6):714-9.
Subdermal estradiol pellets following hysterectomy and oophorectomy. Effect
upon serum estrone, estradiol, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating
hormone, corticosteroid binding globulin-binding capacity, testosterone-estradiol
binding globulin-binding capacity, lipids, and hot flushes.
Lobo RA, March CM, Goebelsmann U, Krauss RM, Mishell DR Jr.
Subdermal estradiol were inserted immediately after hysterectomy and oophorectomy in 22 menstruating women, ages 29 to 50 years. …High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol increased significantly, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglycerides were unaffected, except for a rise in triglycerides in three older women with diabetes mellitus and hypertension. There were no complaints of severe hot flushes. Women who had vasomotor symptoms had mild or moderate flushes that occurred at 5 or 6 months after replacements of the pellets. Thus, E2 pellets are an effective form of parenteral estrogen replacement therapy and offer both practical and theoretical advantages over other forms of estrogen.
Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 1982 Oct;20(5):387-99.Endocrine and clinical effects
of estradiol and testosterone pellets used in long-term replacement therapy.
Kapetanakis E, Dmowski WP, Auletta F, Scommegna A.
" Ten women with estrogen deficiency symptoms because of premature menopause,
gonadal dysgenesis, or surgical menopause received subcutaneous implants consisting
of 25-75 mg estradiol with or without 75 mg testosterone. Clinically, all patients
had symptomatic improvement within 24-48 hours."
Transdermal testosterone treatment in women with
impaired sexual function after oophorectomy
Shifren JL, et al.
New England Journal of Medicine, Sept. 7, 2000; 343(10):682-8
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
BACKGROUND: The ovaries provide approximately half the circulating testosterone
in premenopausal women. After bilateral oophorectomy, many women report impaired
sexual functioning despite estrogen replacement. We evaluated the effects of
transdermal testosterone in women who had impaired sexual function after surgically
induced menopause
RESULTS: …higher testosterone dose resulted in further increases in scores
for frequency of sexual activity and pleasure-orgasm in the Brief index of Sexual
Functioning for Women (P=0.03 for both comparisons with placebo). At the higher
dose the percentages of women who had sexual fantasies, masturbated, or engaged
in sexual intercourse at least once a week increased two to three times from
base line. The positive-well-being, depressed-mood, and composite scores of the
Psychological General Well-Being Index also improved at the higher dose compared
to placebo.
CONCLUSIONS: In women who have undergone oophorectomy and hysterectomy, transdermal
testosterone improves sexual function and psychological well-being.
Note: This article is
not about pellet implants specifically, but supports the benefit of higher
levels of testosterone in certain women, which are easily and conveniently
achieved with pellet implant therapy.