ABSTRACT

To evaluate endometrial thickness by transvaginal ultrasonography during different regimens of hormone replacement therapy and to compare this data.

University of Mersin, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Material and Methods: Age, body mass index, and transvaginal evaluation of endometrial thickness of 90 postmenopausal women who had no contraendication for hormone replacement therapy were recorded. Patients were randomly divided into three groups. The first (Group I), received continuous combined hormon replacement therapy, the second (Group II) tibolone and the third (Group III) cyclic hormone replacement therapy. After one year, all of the patients were evaluated and transvaginal endometrial thickness were repeated and statically analyses were performed for comparison.

Twenty two patients (24%) did not complete the study for poor compliance. After 12 months of therapy, the mean endometrial thickness in three groups was significantly increased in comparison with basal values (p=0.007). The mean value of endometrial thickness in Group III was significantly greater than the others (p=0.009).

All of the hormone replacement therapy modalities increase endometrial thickness but the increase is greater in cyclic hormone replacement therapy.

Keywords: Hormone Replacement Therapy, Endometrium, Transvaginal Ultrasonography, Endometrial Thickness