Desogestrel in hormone replacement therapy: long-term effects on bone, calcium and lipid metabolism, climacteric symptoms, and bleeding

Abstract. Seventy‐three healthy, postmenopausal women, aged 45–54 years, were randomly assigned to one of three groups for 2 years of treatment: 17β‐oestradiol 1·5 mg on days 1–12 and 17β‐oestradiol 1·5 mg+desogestrel 150 μg on days 13–24 (E 2 /DG) or oestradiol valerate 2 mg on days 1–11 and oestradiol valerate 2 mg+medroxyprogesterone acetate 10 mg on days 12–21 (E 2 V/MPA) or placebo. Fifty‐seven women (78%) completed the study. Bone mineral content of the distal regions of the forearms (measured by single photon absorptiometry, SPA) and bone mineral density of the spine (measured by dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry, DXA) showed increases of 0·5‐1% and 4–5%, respectively, in the hormone groups over 2 years. The placebo group exhibited a decrease in spinal bone density of 2% per year, and in the forearm of 2·5‐3·5% per year. Biochemical estimates of bone turnover (serum alkaline phosphatase and fasting urinary calcium) decreased significantly to premenopausal levels in the hormone groups but remained unchanged in the placebo group. In both hormone groups total cholesterol decreased by about 9% ( P < 0·001), whereas low density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased by 16% in the E 2 /DG group and 20% in the E 2 V/MPA group ( P < 0·001). High density lipoprotein cholesterol showed only minor, insignificant changes in the hormone groups. The placebo group had virtually unchanged values. Climacteric symptoms, including hot flushes, were significantly reduced in both hormone groups. Bleeding occurred regularly in about 80% of the women. We conclude that both combinations of oestrogen and progestogens effectively prevent postmenopausal bone loss and are appropriate alternatives in hormone replacement therapy.