Estetrol: a unique steroid in human pregnancy.

Estetrol (E(4)) is an estrogenic steroid molecule synthesized exclusively by the fetal liver during human pregnancy and reaching the maternal circulation through the placenta. Its function is presently unknown. After its discovery in the mid-1960s, E(4) research revealed rather unique properties of this steroid and spawned a large body of state-of-the art publications.

Ovulation inhibition by estetrol in an in vivo model.

Background: Currently, the synthetic steroid ethinylestradiol (EE) is the preferred estrogen in combined oral contraceptives. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the natural steroid estetrol (E(4)) as an ovulation inhibitor in rats when compared to EE.

Study Design: Regularly cycling female rats were treated orally twice daily for four consecutive days, starting on the day of estrus, with E(4) (0.

Relief of vasomotor symptoms and vaginal atrophy with three doses of conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone acetate in postmenopausal Asian women from 11 countries: The Pan-Asia menopause (PAM) study.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of three doses of estrogen/progestin therapy for relief of vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and vaginal atrophy in Asian women of different ethnic background; to examine differences in prevalence of VMS among ethnic groups.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, double-blind multinational clinical trial in healthy postmenopausal women from 11 Asian countries. Following 2 weeks of baseline observations, the women received one of three conjugated estrogens (CE)/medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) doses (in mg) daily for 24 weeks: 0.

Prevalence of menopausal symptoms in different ethnic groups of Asian women and responsiveness to therapy with three doses of conjugated estrogens/medroxyprogesterone acetate: the Pan-Asia Menopause (PAM) study.

Objective: To survey the prevalence of 18 menopausal symptoms in nine ethnic groups of Asian women. To evaluate responsiveness of symptoms to three estrogen/progestin doses in Asian women.

Design: A prospective, randomized, double-blind multinational clinical trial in 1028 healthy postmenopausal women from 11 Asian countries/regions.