The influence of a tibolone therapy on endometrium in postmenopausal women

Abstract

Objective: Assessment of the frequency of vaginal bleeding and morphologic changes of endometrium in postmenopausal women treated with tibolone. Material: 26 patients, aged from 50 to 70 (mean 59.7+/-6.7) years, without contraindications to hormonal replacement therapy. Methods: The therapy with a tibolone in a daily dose of 2.5mg during the course of 1 year. The assessment of endometrium was obtained by means of transvaginal ultrasound examination (USG TV) and curratage and/or biopsy with Pipelle probe. Results: during the therapy with tibolone, vaginal bleeding was noted in case of 3 (11.5%) postmenopausal women. The thickness of endometrium measured by USG TV was mean 4.6}2.3mm and did not change enough to be considered statistically significant during the therapy. Endometrial morphology assessed by curratage and/or biopsy showed atrophic endometrium in 20 patients, polyposis endometrium in 1 case or no samples. Conclusions: Tibolone therapy leads to low rates of vaginal bleeding and atrophic changes of the endometrium. Tibolone is a safe and effective alternative to hormonal therapy in postmenopausal women.