News: Transdermal E2 gel offers efficacy, flexibility to women with vasomotor symptoms

Researchers tested three doses (1.0, 0.5, and 0.25 mg/day) of transdermal estradiol (E₂) gel 0.1%, consisting of 1 mg of E₂ per 1 g of transdermal gel, and found that compared with placebo, all three doses significantly reduced from baseline the frequency and severity of vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women as early as week 2 of treatment.

The 12-week study involved 488 postmenopausal women. All three doses also significantly improved vulvar and vaginal atrophy, when compared with placebo. Improvements were maintained throughout treatment. Of the 58 women who discontinued participation in the study prematurely, only 13 did so due to inefficacy; nine did so due to adverse events.

The researchers noted that the greatest improvements were seen with the highest dose, but that the availability of three doses allows for up-and-down titration and compliance with current recommendations to use estrogen, as part of hormone therapy, at the lowest effective dose.