Horm Metab Res 2001; 33(12): 744-747
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-19139
Original Clinical
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

The Effects of Postmenopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy and Oral Contraceptives on the Endogenous Estradiol Metabolism

A. O. Mueck 1 , H. Seeger 1 , T. Gräser 1 , M. Oettel 1 , T. H. Lippert 1
  • 1 Section of Endocrinology and Menopause, University of Tübingen, Germany
  • 2 Jenapharm GmbH, Jena, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 December 2001 (online)

The estradiol metabolism may be of clinical relevance in the pathophysiology of various diseases; the increase in D-ring metabolites over A-ring metabolites in breast cancer patients is of special interest. Since estrogen therapy has been blamed for increasing the risk of breast cancer, the effects of hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) and oral contraception were investigated on the ratio of the main D-ring metabolite, 16α-hydroxyestrone (16-OHE1), to the main A-ring metabolite, 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1). In our study, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal women consisted of administration of estradiol valerate either with or without addition of the progestin dienogest. In the second part of the study, women of reproductive age received ethinylestradiol plus dienogest or ethinylestradiol plus norethisterone acetate as oral contraceptives (OC). 2-OHE1 and 16-OHE1 were measured by enzyme immunoassay in 8 h night-urine collected before and after 3 months of hormone administration. With HRT, that is, estradiol valerate or estradiol valerate plus dienogest, the ratios before treatment were 0.47 and 0.60; after 3 months, they were 0.54 and 0.52, respectively. There were no significant differences. With oral contraception, that is, ethinylestradiol plus dienogest or norethisterone acetate, the ratios before administration were 0.62 and 0.68, vs. 0.31 and 0.54 after 3 months, respectively. The ratio after ethinylestradiol and dienogest was significantly lower after treatment. HRT and OC in the estrogen-progestin combinations tested did not impose any negative effects on estradiol metabolism - they did not elicit a higher D-ring metabolism, which is considered to increase breast cancer risk.

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A. O. Mueck, M.D., Ph.D., P.H.

Head of Section of Endocrinology and Menopause
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
University of Tübingen

Schleichstrasse 4
72076 Tübingen
Germany