Efficacy of tibolone and transdermal estrogen therapy on psychological symptoms in women following surgical menopause

Objective: This study investigated the efficacy of tibolone and transdermal estradiol therapy on menopausal and psychological symptoms in women following surgical menopause. Method: Seventy-five women who had undergone surgical menopause were randomized to a 6-month double-blind interventional study treatment with oral 2.5 mg/day tibolone, transdermal 3.9 mg/week estradiol or oral placebo. The patients were assessed using Kupperman's Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) before and at the end of the 6 months of treatment. Result: Sixty-five subjects completed the study: 23 on tibolone, 21 on transdermal estradiol and 21 on placebo. At the end of the 6 months of therapy, highly significant improvements in menopausal symptoms, depression and anxiety scores were observed in both groups (tibolone and transdermal estradiol groups) as compared with baseline values (p<0.001). However, in the placebo group, there were no significant differences on changes from baseline to the end of treatment (p > 0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that tibolone and transdermal estradiol therapy significantly improve menopausal and psychological symptoms in women following surgical menopause.