ABSTRACT

Objective To determine the effect on the bone density of the skeleton after changing from oral oestrogen to subcutaneous oestradiol and testosterone replacement.

Design Prospective non-randomized single centre study.

Subjects Twenty women who were receiving long-term oral oestrogen replacement. Ten changed to oestradiol and testosterone implants; the remaining ten continued with oral oestrogens.

Main outcome measures Bone density was measured using dual photon absorptiometry at the lumbar spine and neck of femur at the start of the study and after one year.

Results The bone density increased significantly by 5.7% at the spine and by 5.2% at the neck of femur in those women who changed to implant therapy but remained unchanged in those women who continued with oral therapy.

Conclusion Subcutaneous oestradiol and testosterone implants will result in an increase in bone mass even after many years of oral oestrogen replacement therapy.