Treatment of premenstrual disorders by suppression of ovulation by transdermal estrogens

Abstract

The understanding of the cause and treatment of premenstrual disorders is confused but it is essentially the result of cyclical ovarian activity, usually ovulation, and an effective treatment should be by suppressing ovulation. This can be done by an oral contraceptive but as these women are progestogen intolerant the symptoms may persist becoming constant rather than cyclical. Alternatively, transdermal estradiol by patch, gel or implant effectively removes the cyclical hormonal changes, which produce the cyclical symptoms. A shortened seven-day course of a progestogen is required each month for endometrial protection but it can reproduce premenstrual syndrome-type symptoms in these women. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone with ‘add-back’ is effective in the short term. Laparoscopic hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy with adequate replacement of estrogen and testosterone should be considered in the severe cases with progestogenic side-effects.