Fatemeh Abdi: Ph.D Candidate, Student Research Committee, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Hamid Mobedi: Pharm.D.,Ph.D, Biomaterials Department, Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute, Tehran, Iran.
Farhad Bayat: Pasteur Institute of Iran,Research and Production Complex, Tehran, Iran.
Nariman Mosaffa: Professor, Department of Immunology, Faculty of medicine, ShahidBeheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mahrokh Dolatian: Assistant Professor, Department of Reproductive Health, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, ShahidBeheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Fahimeh Ramezani Tehrani: Professor, Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, ShahidBeheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Due to its minimal systematic adverse effects, transdermal estrogen is widely used for the prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. The present meta-analysis aimed to clarify the effects of transdermal estrogen on bone mineral density (BMD) of postmenopausal women. Studies were identified by searching electronic databases including Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase , and CINAHL databases, and also the Sciences Citation Index. Systematic review of articles was published between January 1989 to February 2016.Reference lists of the included articles were also evaluated and consultations were made with relevant experts. While 132 studies included the desired keywords, only nine clinical trials met the inclusion criteria and were finally reviewed. The pooled percent change in BMD was statistically significant in favor of transdermal estrogen. According to resulting pooled estimate, lumbar spine BMD one and two years after transdermal estrogen therapy was respectively 3.4% (95% CI: 1.7-5.1) and 3.7% (95% CI: 1.7-5.7) higher than the baseline values. The test for heterogeneity was not statistically significant based on the I heterogeneity index. One-two years of transdermal estrogen delivery can effectively increase BMD and protect the bone structure in postmenopausal women.
