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118 NON-HORMONAL TREATMENT OF PERI-MENOPAUSAL WOMEN: SENSE OR NONSENSE ?

Ton M. Schellen - Sittard, The Netherlands

Treatment of climacteric women with oestrogens has encountered very bad

criticism without a valid argumentation. One wonders why. Firstly as a

consequence of a wrong dosage scheme with dosages too high, secondly as a result

of treatment with a non-individualized dose and continuous administration

without adding a progestogen. Finally by unfortunate stories in the lay press

about the relation between oestrogens and endometrial carcinoma. Much attention

is paid to this relation, not only in the medical literature but also, and even

more in the lay press. The result of this negative publicity is that many

general practitioners are against hormonal treatment in general, and oestrogen

treatment in particular. They even oppose the treatment of urogenital

climacteric problems with oestriol, a non-uterotropic substance. As a result of

this negative opinion too many women are deprived of oestrogen treatment and too

many women still believe that oestrogens are dangerous. Today the women who may not use oestrogens because of contraindications can be identified. In these

cases some doctors have found, with success, another way of treating these women

e.g. with non-hormonal preparations like extracts from bee-pollen and

combinations of multivitamins with mineral salts, trace-elements, lipotropic

substances and ginseng extract. Especially this preparation, known in the United

States as Geriavit Pharmato& seems to be a good alternative, but it also seems

to offer good vitamin suppletion in women who are using oestrogens, either

oestradiol or oestriol, and especially for women who are post-menopausal. For

this reason it was worthwhile to start some double-blind studies to look into

the results obtained with this preparation.