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Estradiol + dydrogesterone

Estradiol + dydrogesterone has been studied in 8 papers since 2011: 3 trials and 3 observational studies in people, 1 review; 7 in the past year. The newest story, Nov 3, 2026: “Hormone therapy responses varied with women’s microbiomes”.

Intervention

8 papers study it9 more mention it13 findingsUpdated

PubChemPubChemChEBIChEBI

4 new papers in 30 daysSee all 17 papers on estradiol + dydrogesterone

At a glance

Independent labs found the same change in people. 5 independent labs in 2 countries.

“oral estradiol/dydrogesterone, given for 6 months to 356 perimenopausal women, improved neuroendocrine, metabolic and symptom outcomes”
Heterogeneity of microbiome responses to menopausal hormone therapy among perimenopausal womenNature medicine2026doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04737-4

None of its findings points the other way.

Humans: replicated by independent labs. Cells, worms or flies and mice: nothing yet.

C, W, M, H: cells, worms or flies, mice, humans. Dark: independent labs found the same change there. Light: one lab or one study. Outline: nothing yet.

Labs are independent when their papers share no last author and no institution.

  • 5 independent labs in 2 countries
  • Human trial3
  • Humans3

Studies in people

1 study gave estradiol + dydrogesterone to people and measured what changed.

What changedDesignPeopleSource

down: Decreases climacteric symptoms

up: Induces microbiome composition

Trial6 months356 peopleWomenPerimenopausal womenNature medicine, Nov 3, 2026

What did studies of estradiol + dydrogesterone find?

10

Studies of estradiol + dydrogesterone measured 10 outcomes; the most studied are microbiome composition (1 study), climacteric symptoms (1) and climacteric symptoms (1).

Microbiome composition

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Estradiol + dydrogesterone induces microbiome composition in humans (perimenopausal women).

    “induced site-specific microbial remodeling. Vaginocervical and urinary niches showed the most pronounced restructuring, with moderate oral and minimal gut changes.”

    Human trialperimenopausal womenvaginocervical, urinary, oral and gut niches6 monthsfemalesn = 356

    Hormone therapy responses varied with women’s microbiomes

    Nature medicine

Climacteric symptoms

downin humans1

1 study

  1. Estradiol + dydrogesterone decreases climacteric symptoms in humans (perimenopausal women).

    “oral estradiol/dydrogesterone, given for 6 months to 356 perimenopausal women, improved neuroendocrine, metabolic and symptom outcomes”

    Human trialperimenopausal women6 monthsfemalesn = 356

    Hormone therapy responses varied with women’s microbiomes

    Nature medicine

More on Climacteric symptoms

Climacteric symptoms

downin humans1

1 study

  1. Estradiol + dydrogesterone decreases climacteric symptoms in humans (perimenopausal and postmenopausal women).

    “provide effective relief from symptoms of estrogen depletion”

    Reviewperimenopausal and postmenopausal women

    Literature review of estradiol/dydrogesterone in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women

    Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society

HDL cholesterol

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Estradiol + dydrogesterone increases HDL cholesterol in humans (P = 0.001).

    “Femoston significantly increased HDL-C (P = 0.001) whereas Climen did not (P = 0.402)”

    Human trialsix consecutive treatment cyclesfemalesn = 42

    Comparison of two menopausal hormone therapy regimens in managing menopausal symptoms: a retrospective study

    BMC women's health

More on HDL cholesterol

Kupperman Menopausal Index

downin humans1

1 study

  1. Estradiol + dydrogesterone decreases Kupperman Menopausal Index in humans (menopausal symptoms) (26.90 ± 5.72 to 10.48 ± 3.72, P < 0.001).

    “Both regimens produced substantial reductions in KMI scores from baseline (Femoston: 26.90 ± 5.72 to 10.48 ± 3.72; Climen: 27.53 ± 6.08 to 11.74 ± 4.12; both P < 0.001).”

    Human trialmenopausal symptomssix consecutive treatment cyclesfemalesn = 42

    Comparison of two menopausal hormone therapy regimens in managing menopausal symptoms: a retrospective study

    BMC women's health

More on Kupperman Menopausal Index

Adverse events

upin humans1OR 3.55

1 study

  1. Estradiol + dydrogesterone is linked with higher adverse events in humans (adjusted OR 3.55, 95% CI 1.29-9.77).

    “Any adverse event was reported in 11.1% versus 31.7% of participants (adjusted OR 3.55, 95% CI 1.29-9.77; p=0.014)”

    Humans12 weeksfemalesn = 150

    Efficacy and safety of dydrogesterone monotherapy versus estradiol-dydrogesterone combination therapy in perimenopausal women: a real-world cohort study

    Frontiers in endocrinology

Endometrial thickness

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Estradiol + dydrogesterone is linked with higher endometrial thickness in humans (+0.60 mm).

    “Endometrial thickness increased modestly in the E2/DYD group (+0.60 mm)”

    Humansendometrium12 weeksfemalesn = 150

    Efficacy and safety of dydrogesterone monotherapy versus estradiol-dydrogesterone combination therapy in perimenopausal women: a real-world cohort study

    Frontiers in endocrinology

Clinical response

upin humans1OR 2.08

1 study

  1. Estradiol + dydrogesterone is linked with better clinical response in humans (adjusted OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.02-4.45).

    “Clinical response occurred in 31.5% and 51.2% of participants, respectively (adjusted OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.02-4.45; p=0.042).”

    Humans12 weeksfemalesn = 150

    Efficacy and safety of dydrogesterone monotherapy versus estradiol-dydrogesterone combination therapy in perimenopausal women: a real-world cohort study

    Frontiers in endocrinology

Perimenopausal symptoms

downin humans1

1 study

  1. Estradiol + dydrogesterone is linked with lower perimenopausal symptoms in humans (-4.51 points (95% CI -6.90 to -2.12)).

    “adjusted mean difference -4.51, 95% CI -6.90 to -2.12; p<0.001”

    Humans12 weeksfemalesn = 150

    Efficacy and safety of dydrogesterone monotherapy versus estradiol-dydrogesterone combination therapy in perimenopausal women: a real-world cohort study

    Frontiers in endocrinology

Sexual function

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Estradiol + dydrogesterone improves sexual function in humans (early postmenopausal women with climacteric symptoms).

    “The groups receiving DHEA or HRT reported a significant improvement in sexual function compared to baseline (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively) using the McCoy total score.”

    Human trialearly postmenopausal women with climacteric symptomsoral1 mg estradiol plus 5 mg dihydrogesterone daily12 monthsfemales

    Effect of 1-year, low-dose DHEA therapy on climacteric symptoms and female sexuality

    Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society

What is estradiol + dydrogesterone linked with?

3

Studies link estradiol + dydrogesterone with 3 measures, most often fracture risk (1 study), adverse events (1) and fibroid cross-sectional area (1).

Fracture risk

downin humans1

1 study

  1. Estradiol + dydrogesterone lowers the risk of fracture risk in humans (perimenopausal and postmenopausal women).

    “provide effective relief from symptoms of estrogen depletion, high rates of amenorrhea and fracture risk reduction”

    Reviewperimenopausal and postmenopausal women

    Literature review of estradiol/dydrogesterone in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women

    Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society

Adverse events

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Estradiol + dydrogesterone is associated with adverse events in humans during menopausal transition (18.07% unexpected bleeding, 10.84% breast discomfort, 2.41% gastrointestinal symptoms).

    “The incidence rates of unexpected bleeding, breast discomfort and gastrointestinal symptoms were 18.07%, 10.84% and 2.41%, respectively.”

    Humansduring menopausal transitionup to 5 yearsfemalesn = 83

    Effects of Menopausal Hormone Therapy on Uterine Fibroids in Women During Menopausal Transition

    International journal of women's health

Fibroid cross-sectional area

mixedin humans1

1 study

  1. Estradiol + dydrogesterone is associated with fibroid cross-sectional area in humans during menopausal transition.

    “Although statistically significant differences from baseline in fibroid cross-sectional area were observed during the first four years of follow-up, these changes were marginal and clinically unremarkable and undetectable at year 5.”

    Humansduring menopausal transitionsequentialuterusup to 5 yearsfemalesn = 83

    Effects of Menopausal Hormone Therapy on Uterine Fibroids in Women During Menopausal Transition

    International journal of women's health

More on Fibroid cross-sectional area

Latest

Dec 2025: 0Jan 2026: 0Feb 2026: 0Mar 2026: 0Apr 2026: 2May 2026: 2Jun 2026: 2Jul 2026: 0Aug 2026: 1Sep 2026: 0Oct 2026: 3Nov 2026: 111 papers in 12 months
Nature Medicine

Hormone therapy responses varied with women’s microbiomes

In a six-month trial of 356 perimenopausal women, starting vaginal and gut microbial communities were linked to differences in hormone therapy responses.In a six-month trial of 356 perimenopausal women, starting vaginal and gut microbial communities were linked to differences in hormone therapy responses.

Cohort · 327 peopleGut and microbiome
Paper

See all 17 papers on estradiol + dydrogesterone

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