[The effect of transdermal hormone replacement therapy on vasomotor symptoms in perimenopausal women]

About 30% of female population in Poland is already in the perimenopausal age. The North American Menopausal Society has defined the menopause as the permanent cessation of menstruation resulting from the loss of ovarian follicular activity. Perimenopausal period is often connected with vasomotor symptoms in women. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition among clinicians of the importance of learning more about how patients cope with the symptoms of their condition. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of hormone replacement therapy on vasomotor symptoms in perimenopausal women with the use of Kupperman Index. In a six-month (6 treatment periods, 28 days each) randomized study, 75 healthy postmenopausal women were assigned to receive 50 micrograms/day of continuous transdermal estradiol with sequential transdermal norethisterone acetate (NETA) in daily doses of 170 micrograms in a single transdermal patch. The average number of vasomotor symptoms per day measured with Kupperman Menopausal Index decreased from prestudy by over 90%. The substantial improvement in vasomotor symptoms assessed across time was apparent by week 12 of the treatment.