The effects of hormone replacement therapy on uterine fibroids in postmenopausal women

To evaluate and compare the effects of two different modalities of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on the size of uterine fibroids. Randomized clinical study. The Menopause Center of a public hospital. Postmenopausal women with small asymptomatic uterine fibroids were selected. One group was treated with 50μg transdermal E2 plus 5mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) continuously, whereas the second group was given 0.625mg conjugated equine estrogen plus 2.5mg MPA continuously. The size of the uterine fibroids was measured before and after the first year of HRT. At the end of the first year on HRT, the size of the uterine fibroids was re-evaluated sonographically and no significant difference was found with the oral group, whereas there was a significant increase in the transdermal group. Hormone replacement therapy with 50μg transdermal E2 plus 5mg MPA increases the size of the uterine fibroids.