Use of unopposed estrogen in women with uteri: prevalence, clinical implications, and economic consequence

A sustained decline in postmenopausal hormone use: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2010

OBJECTIVE

Short-term declines in postmenopausal hormone use were observed after the Women's Health Initiative trial results in 2002. Although concerns about the trial's generalizability have been expressed, long-term trends in hormone use in a nationally representative sample have not been reported. We sought to evaluate national trends in the prevalence of hormone use and to assess variation by type of formulation and patient characteristics.

METHODS

We examined postmenopausal hormone use during 1999-2010 using cross-sectional data from 10,107 women aged 40 years and older in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

RESULTS

In 1999-2000, the prevalence of oral postmenopausal hormone use was 22.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 19.0-25.8) overall, 13.3% (95% CI 11.0-15.5) for estrogen only, and 8.3% (95% CI 6.2-10.4) for estrogen plus progestin. A sharp decline in use of all formulations occurred in 2003-2004, when the overall prevalence decreased to 11.9% (95% CI 9.6-14.2). This decline was initially limited to non-Hispanic whites; use among non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics did not decline substantially until 2005-2006. Hormone use continued to decline through 2009-2010 across all patient demographic groups, with the current prevalence now at 4.7% (95% CI 3.3-6.1) overall, 2.7% (95% CI 1.9-3.4) for estrogen only, and 1.7% (95% CI 0.7-2.7) for estrogen plus progestin. Patient characteristics currently associated with hormone use include history of hysterectomy, non-Hispanic white race or ethnicity, and income.

CONCLUSION

Postmenopausal hormone use in the United States has declined in a sustained fashion to low levels across a wide variety of patient subgroups.

Endometrial hyperplasia, polyps, and adenomyosis associated with unopposed estrogen in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of estrogen and progesterone on the vaginal mucosa and their role in vaginal transmission of simian immunodeficiency virus. Incidentally, endometrial hyperplasia was observed in estrogen-treated monkeys at necropsy. Six adult female rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were ovariectomized and 120 days later received two subcutaneous implants, each containing 200 mg estradiol. The animals were sacrificed 17-27 months later and the uterus examined at necropsy. All the monkeys had simple endometrial hyperplasia, some with polyps or adenomyosis, at the time of necropsy. The severity of the changes correlated with the time between implantation and necropsy. The lesions were similar to endometrial hyperplasia caused by unopposed estrogen in women, but occurred over a time period that is suitable for experimental manipulation. Rhesus monkeys could be used as a model to test the safety of various combinations of sex steroids for the prevention of postmenopausal symptoms in women.