Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology (CEOG) is published by IMR Press from Volume 47 Issue 1 (2020). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with S.O.G.
Beneficial effects of low doses of ethinyl-estradiol on the lipid profile in postmenopausal women
The purpose of this study was to investigate the beneficial effects of low doses of ethinyl-estradiol on the lipid profile in postmenopausal women. One hundred and five patients (mean age [±S DJ 42.9 ± 5.0 years) who underwent a hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were included in the study. For the present study serum levels of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B (apoB), and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] were investigated. When all patients were considered together (Table 1), EE2 therapy significantly increased serum levels of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. The ratio of HDL to LDL cholesterol, Lp(a) and triglyceride concentrations did not change significantly from the baseline value. Although our study was not randomized or controlled with a placebo, the beneficial metabolic effects of ethinyl-estradiol on lipid patterns should be considered in patients needing hormonal replacement therapy in postmenopause.