American Research Journal of Medicine and Surgery

Background: After the recent publication of results from two large prospective studies, Women’s Health Initiativeand Heart and Estrogen/ Progestin Replacement Therapy (HERS) indicating increased risk with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopausal symptoms, HRT is no longer recommended for asymptomatic postmenopausal women. Tibolone has emerged as an attractive alternative for treatment of perimenopausal women. Interest in the use of Isoflavones, the most common from of phytoestrogens for treatment of menopausal symptoms has been encouraged by observation of lower prevalence of menopausal symptoms.The present study attempts to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of tibolone and isoflavone in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Methods: This prospective comparative study assessed the usefulness of tibolone and isoflavone for the management of menopausal symptoms among 80 postmenopausal symptoms .The patients were asked about symptomatic improvements ; detailed physical examination were carried out ; TVS and lipid profile were done initially and at 1 , 6 and 12 months. Result : Improvement in vasomotor , genitourinary symptoms and joint pain were significantly higher in tibolone group in comparison to isoflavone in most of the follow up visits and after the completion of treatment.Blood pressure records did not show any change with the use of both the drugs over 12 months. Incidence of breakthrough bleeding was nil in isoflavone and nominal in tibolone group . No significant adverse effect on lipid profile was found in both the groups . Conclusion: Efficacy of tibolone was found to be significantly better than the isoflavones in management of postmenopausal symptoms.