Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume 44, Issue 4 , Pages 327-331, December 2005

New Selective Tissue Estrogenic Activity Regulator (STEAR) in Menopausal Therapy in Taiwan

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Taipei Veterans General Hospital and National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan

Received 1 April 2005; received in revised form 4 April 2005; accepted 28 April 2005.

Article Outline

Summary 

Objective

The compliance of women living in Taiwan with the selective tissue estrogenic activity regulator (STEAR) tibolone has seldom been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term compliance of perimenopausal women living in Taiwan in taking tibolone, and the efficacy of the drug.

Materials and Methods

A total of 289 perimenopausal women who had experienced mild to severe climacteric symptoms were enrolled in this study. Every woman was evaluated before (baseline), during (end of the third month), and after therapy (end of the sixth month) with 2.5 mg tibolone daily. Efficacy was assessed from improvement in climacteric symptoms and compliance was also assessed.

Results

A total of 275 women were still on tibolone treatment by the end of the study, revealing a high rate (95.2%) of retention. Breast tenderness was significantly reduced, from 26.5% to 2.8%. The reported rate of insomnia was 50.5% at baseline, and had been reduced to 20.4% by the end of the study. Bleeding episodes dropped from 87.4% at baseline to 39.4% at the end of the study. The rate of mood instability was significantly reduced, from 84.1% at baseline to 44.3% at the end of the study. Libido improved from 15.9% at baseline to 61.6% at the end of the study, a unique benefit of tibolone due to the androgenic effect of its d-isomer. Most women (84.1%) had an increase in body weight ranging from 0.5 to 3 kg. Fourteen subjects dropped out for the following reasons: three women had acne and/or allergic reaction, four had a significant increase in body weight and/or water retention, one had headache, and the other six dropped out for personal reasons.

Conclusion

Tibolone can improve the climacteric symptoms of perimenopausal women living in Taiwan. With the exception of increased body weight, no major side-effect was noted during this short-term study.

Key Words:  climacteric symptoms , menopausal treatment , STEAR , selective tissue estrogenic activity regulator , tibolone

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PII: S1028-4559(09)60165-0

doi:10.1016/S1028-4559(09)60165-0

Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume 44, Issue 4 , Pages 327-331, December 2005

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