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Estrogen and Estrogen with Progestin Therapies
for Postmenopausal Women
The Food and Drug Administration has received
requests from the public to provide updated product information for
estrogen- and progestin-containing drug products used for treating
postmenopausal symptoms. Information from the Women’s Health
Initiative (WHI) trial about estrogens and progestins continues to
have significant public health implications for postmenopausal
women. As the series of new study results from the WHI become available, we are encouraging manufacturers to update their labels for estrogen- and progestin-containing drug products for postmenopausal women to include new information from these studies. This information will allow individuals to understand the risks and benefits of these products and make appropriate health care decisions. This web page lists products with approved updated labeling that includes the important information from the WHI studies.
On May 31, 2002, the WHI study of conjugated
estrogens 0.625 mg/day, plus medroxyprogesterone acetate 2.5 mg/day
in postmenopausal women was stopped after a mean of 5.2 years of
follow-up because the test statistic for invasive breast cancer
exceeded the stopping boundary for this adverse effect and the
global index statistic supported risks exceeding benefits. Data on
the major clinical outcomes through April 30, 2002, regarding
increased risks for invasive breast cancer, heart attacks, strokes,
and venous thromboembolism rates, including pulmonary embolism,
became available July 17, 2002. These data were updated March 17,
2003. The Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS), a
substudy of the WHI, recently concluded that women treated in the
study with conjugated estrogens 0.625mg combined with
medroxyprogesterone acetate 2.5mg have a greater risk of developing
probable dementia than those on placebo.
Detailed information
about the Women's Health Initiative and the Women's Health
Initiative Memory Study is available at the National Institute of
Health's Menopausal Hormone Replacement Information web site www.nih.gov/PHTindex.htm.
Updated
Labeling for Estrogen and Estrogen-Progestin Products for
Postmenopausal Women*
*The following products have FDA-approved
labeling that includes information from WHI studies. Not all of the
WHI studies are completed yet. As more information becomes
available, labeling for these products will be updated and added to
this site.
FDA Press Releases
Guidances for Industry
- Federal Register; Notice of Availability. [TXT]
[PDF]
- Draft Guidance: Labeling Guidance for Noncontraceptive Estrogen Drug Products for the Treatment of Vasomotor Symptoms and Vulvar and Vaginal Atrophy Symptoms — Prescribing Information for Health Care Providers and Patient Labeling. [HTML]
or [PDF]
- Draft Guidance: Estrogen and Estrogen/Progestin Drug Products to
Treat Vasomotor Symptoms and Vulvar and Vaginal Atrophy Symptoms —
Recommendations for Clinical Evaluation. [HTML]
or [PDF
]
Consumer Information
Other Resources for Women’s
Health Information
- FDA
Office of Women's Health
- Women's
Health Initiative, National Institutes of Health (NIH), National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI),
- Hormone
Replacement Therapy. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, Update, 2002
Release.
- Risks
and Benefits of Estrogen Plus Progestin in Healthy Postmenopausal Women. JAMA,
July 17, 2002; 288(3): 321-333. Abstract
- Estrogen Plus Progestin and the Incidence of Dementia and Mild Cognitive
Impairment in Postmenopausal Women: The Women's Health Initiative Memory
Study: A Randomized Controlled Trial, JAMA, May 2003; 289(20): 2651-2662. Abstract 9 No. 20, May 28, 200
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Date created: January 8, 2003; Updated: January 16, 2008 |
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