Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy on Arthralgia in Postmenopausal Women
Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy on Arthralgia in Postmenopausal Women
Arthralgia has been a common complaint in postmenopausal period which seems to be involved
 with estrogen depletion, although, its pathophysiology isn´t completely clarified. It seems
 to relate with the level of physical activity, climacteric symptoms and pain catastrophizing.
 In view of the multiple dimensions involved in arthralgia in postmenopausal women which
 characterize it as a complex phenomenon, this study aims to describe the effects of hormone
 replacement therapy in women aged between 45 and 55 years, considering estrogen as a possible
 anti-nociceptive factor.
This study is a randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial with postmenopausal women
 aged between 45 and 55 years with chronic arthralgia related to climacteric. They will be
 evaluated climacteric symptoms, pain intensity, level of physical activity, pain
 catastrophising, depression, anxiety, quality of sleep and quality of life. The volunteers
 will be randomized, in the proportion 1:1, to treatment with either 0,625 mg conjugated
 equine estrogen, via oral administration, for 12 weeks or placebo, via oral administration,
 for 12 weeks. The randomization will be performed by a computer-generated random numbers
 list. The investigators will be blinded until completion of 12 weeks. Evaluation of
 climacteric symptoms, pain intensity, level of physical activity, pain catastrophising,
 depression, anxiety, quality of sleep and quality of life will be performed in the hospital
 at baseline, 1, 2, 3, 6 months and 15 days. In each visit, participants will be evaluated
 about adverse effects such as diarrhea, nausea and vomit.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  age between 45 and 55 years

 -  chronic arthralgia related to climacteric

 -  regular mammography and pap smear test in the last twelve months

 -  availability to attend hormone replacement therapy

 -  maximum of ten years of amenorrhea according to the criteria of Stages of Reproductive
 Aging Workshop (STRAW)

 -  without use of hormone replacement therapy, at least, previous six months

 -  no contraindication to hormone replacement therapy (current or past of breast and / or
 cervical cancer, severe current or recent heart disease, thromboembolism, hypertension
 with no control, metabolic diseases (but stable thyroid disease) and endometrial
 hyperplasia to be enlightened

 -  Informed consent

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  autoimmune diseases

 -  visceral pain (chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, irritable bowel syndrome)

 -  systemic diseases (rheumatic, neurological, oncology, sexually transmitted infection)

 -  body mass index of 30 or greater

 -  soy diet

 -  abuse of alcohol and drugs

 -  large surgeries