Faculty Bibliography

A 10-year, double-blind prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of estrogen replacement therapy. The sample population consisted of 84 pairs of randomly chosen postmenopausal patients who were matched for age and diagnosis. One half of the patients received conjugated estrogens and cyclic progesterone, while the other half received placebo. Estrogen-treated patients whose therapy started within 3 years of menopause showed improvement or no increase in osteoporosis. Control patients demonstrate an increase in their osteoporosis

Intramuscular injection of 6.6 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB) in oil was used in 34 women as a test of the ability of the pituitary-hypothalamic axis to produce a gonadotropin surge (positive-feedback response). These responses were compared to Clomid responses. All of the normal cycling women, two-thirds of oligo-ovulatory but menstruating women, and one-third of amenorrheic women had LH surges to EB challenge. Estradiol benzoate is a more specific test of positive feedback response than Clomid. It also may be effective in inducing ovulation in some amenorrheic patients refractory to Clomid treatment