Background: Postmenopausal women are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Exogenous estrogens may potentially lower the risk of cardiovascular disease through beneficial changes in lipoprotein profile and hemostasis. The effect on the vascular system of combined estrogen/progestagen hormone replacement therapy is less clear.
Material/Methods: A group of 44 peri- and postmenopausal women was studied during treatment with Femoston, a sequentially combined hormone replacement therapy consisting of 17-β-estradiol
and dydrogesterone. Comparative analyses were made between the estrogen-only phase and the combined phase of the hormone replacement therapy. Comparisons were also made against the different phases of the spontaneous menstruation cycle in 10 pre- and perimenopausal controls.
Results: Femoston had a neutral effect on blood coagulation factors and had no effect on plasma glucose concentrations. With Femoston, there was a positive change in the atherogenic index and the total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio.
Conclusion: The findings from the present study provide evidence for the efficacy of Femoston hormone replacement therapy in terms of control of hemostasis and inducement of a potentially beneficial
lipoprotein profile, which is important for reducing the risk of vascular pathology in periand postmenopausal women.

Keywords: Apoproteins - blood, Climacteric, Dydrogesterone - administration & dosage, Dydrogesterone - therapeutic use, Estradiol - administration & dosage, Estradiol - therapeutic use, Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood, Hemostasis - drug effects, Hormone Replacement Therapy, Lipoproteins - blood, Luteinizing Hormone - blood, Menstruation - drug effects, Postmenopause, Time Factors