Changes in menopause-specific quality of life between women with transdermal estradiol versus oral estrogens: results of a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of oral and transdermal estrogens in improving the quality of life in perimenopausal and recently postmenopausal women.

Methods: 257 women aged 40-55 years, within three years after their final menstrual period were randomized to receive transdermal oestrogel (t-E2) (n = 128) or oral estradiol valerate (o- E2V) (n = 129; both with micronized progesterone 200 mg for 14 days each month). Menopausal symptoms were recorded at screening and at 4, 12, and 24 weeks post-randomization. Menopausal symptoms were evaluated using the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire.

Results: Significant improvements of MENQOL scores were observed in both groups compared with baseline. The decrease of MENQOL scores after treatment showed almost no difference between the two groups (p > 0.05) except the VMS domain which indicated a better result in oral estrogen group after 24 weeks.

Conclusions: This study showed that both transdermal and oral estrogens were highly effective in relieving the overall menopausal symptoms for recently-menopausal women, with little difference in treatment efficacy between the two routes.