Testosterone for Low Libido in Postmenopausal Women Not Taking Estrogen

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 359; no. 19; pp. 2005 - 2017
• Main Authors: Davis, Susan R, Moreau, Michele, Kroll, Robin, Bouchard, Céline, Panay, Nick, Gass, Margery, Braunstein, Glenn D, Hirschberg, Angelica Linden, Rodenberg, Cynthia, Pack, Simon, Koch, Helga, Moufarege, Alain, Studd, John
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 06.11.2008
• Subjects: Administration, Cutaneous; Androgens - administration & dosage; Androgens - adverse effects; Androgens - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Breast Neoplasms - epidemiology; Double-Blind Method; Female; General aspects; Hirsutism - chemically induced; Hormones - blood; Humans; Libido - drug effects; Medical sciences; Menopause; Middle Aged; Orgasm - drug effects; Postmenopause - drug effects; Postmenopause - physiology; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - drug therapy; Studies; Testosterone; Testosterone - administration & dosage; Testosterone - adverse effects; Testosterone - therapeutic use; Women; Human; Medicine; Testosterone; Androgen; Estrogen; Postmenopause; Adult; Female; Libido; Woman; Sex steroid hormone
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa0707302

In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, 52-week trial among postmenopausal women not receiving estrogen therapy, treatment with a patch delivering 300 μg of testosterone per day resulted in a significant although modest increase in the 4-week frequency of satisfying sexual episodes (1.4 more episodes per month), but the women were also subject to more adverse events, including androgenic side effects. In postmenopausal women not receiving estrogen therapy, treatment with a patch delivering 300 '1;g of testosterone per day resulted in a significant although modest increase in the 4-week frequency of satisfying sexual episodes. The literature suggests that the prevalence of sexual problems among women ranges from 9 to 43%. 1 – 4 Among these women, hypoactive sexual desire disorder is a commonly reported, symptom-driven condition characterized by a decrease or absence of interest in sexual activity, causing distress. 5 Decreased libido is common after natural menopause 6 , 7 and bilateral oophorectomy. 8 – 10 Several studies have shown the efficacy and short-term safety of a transdermal patch delivering 300 μg of testosterone per day for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in women who have undergone either surgically induced or natural menopause and who use concomitant estrogen. 11 – . . .