Fig. 1

Study set-up. (A) Ninety participants will be randomized into six groups of 15 subjects each, receiving either the baseline dose of estradiol (group A), the baseline dose of estradiol and progesterone 200 mg daily (B), the baseline dose of estradiol and progesterone 400 mg daily (C), twice the baseline dose of estradiol (D), twice the baseline dose of estradiol and progesterone 200 mg daily (E), or twice the baseline dose of estradiol and progesterone 400 mg daily (F). (B) The study will include 12 months of follow-up after the start of the intervention. Visits are scheduled at baseline, after 3, 6 and 12 months