Objective
To determine the efficacy of a 100 μg twice weekly dose of Estraderm TTS compared with a 200 μg dose in the treatment of severe PMS, and to determine the overall acceptability of the treatment. To determine the serum oestradiol levels produced by the two doses of Estraderm and to discover whether the lower dose suppresses ovulation.
Design
Main: randomised, prospective, comparative study. Subsidiary: cross‐sectional and prospective.
Setting
Premenstrual syndrome clinic in teaching hospital.
Subjects
Women with severe PMS confirmed by prospective daily symptom recording.
Interventions
Estraderm TTS® at a dose of either 100 or 200 μg twice weekly continuously with either dydrogesterone 10 mg or medroxyprogesterone acetate 5 mg, from day 17 to day 26 of each cycle.
Main outcome measures
Main: change in total, exponentially smoothed, average maximum score (total‐ESAmax) of 10 common premenstrual syndrome symptoms derived from Trigg's trend analysis and patient satisfaction. Subsidiary: plasma oestradiol and day 21 progesterone levels.
Results
Main: no difference in change in total‐ESAmax between Estraderm 100 μg and 200 μg groups. Greater drop‐out rate and greater incidence of side effects attributed to oestrogen in higher dosage group. Satisfaction rate of 45% to 57% at eight months. Subsidiary: 1. Mean (95% CI) oestradiol level of 300 pmol/l (255 to 345) with Estraderm 100 Fg and 573 (494 to 693) with Estraderm 200 pg; 2. Estraderm 100 μg suppresses mid‐luteal progesterone from a mean (95% CI) of 353 (28.4 to 427) to 3.4 (2.4 to 4.5).
Conclusions
Estraderm TTS 100 μg twice weekly is as effective as 200 μg twice weekly in reducing symptom levels in severe premenstrual syndrome but is better tolerated. Estraderm 100 μg suppresses ovulation and results in a mean plasma oestradiol level similar to that observed in a spontaneous cycle.
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