Tamoxifen and Partial Oestrogen Agonism in Postmenopausal Women

• Published in: Age and ageing Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 52 - 54
• Main Authors: MIODRAG, A., EKELUND, P., BURTON, R., CASTLEDEN, C. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01.01.1991; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Aged; Breast Neoplasms - blood; Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Drugs; Estradiol - blood; Estrogen; Estrogens; Estrogens - blood; Estrone; Estrone - blood; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood; Gynecology; Health care; Hormones; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Luteinizing Hormone - blood; Medical research; Menopause; Menopause - blood; Older people; Tamoxifen; Tamoxifen - adverse effects; Tamoxifen - therapeutic use; Vagina - drug effects; Women
• ISSN: 0002-0729; 1468-2834
• DOI: 10.1093/ageing/20.1.52

The effect of tamoxifen on the vaginal mucosa and on serum oestrone, oestradiol and gonadotrophin concentrations was investigated in a group of nine postmenopausal women with non-metastatic breast cancer. Compared with fit age-matched controls, the vaginal pH in the tamoxifen-treated group was significantly lower and was comparable to levels in fertile women. Two thirds of tamoxifen-treated women had well oestrogenized vaginal smears compared with none in the control group. Follicle-stimulating hormone was significantly reduced, whilst oestrone and oestradiol levels remained unchanged. We conclude, therefore, that tamoxifen has oestrogen-agonistic properties particularly evident in postmenopausal women, even though it is primarily an antioestrogenic drug.