HT treatment with estrogens alone or in combination with progestogens was associated with a small to moderate improvement in sexual function , particularly in pain , when used in women with menopausal symptoms or in early postmenopause ( within five years of amenorrhoea ) , but not in unselected postmenopausal women .
The current evidence does not suggest an important effect of tibolone or of SERMs alone or combined with estrogens on sexual function .
BACKGROUND The perimenopausal and postmenopausal periods are associated with many symptoms , including sexual complaints .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of hormone therapy ( HT ) on  sexual function in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women .
The therapeutic effect of a new ultra low concentration estriol gel formulation (0.005% estriol vaginal gel) on symptoms and signs of postmenopausal vaginal atrophy: results from a pivotal phase III study
Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new low-concentration estriol formulation ( 0.005 % estriol vaginal gel ) , providing an ultra low dose of estriol per application ( 50 & mgr;g ) , for the local treatment of postmenopausal vaginal atrophy . Methods Postmenopausal women with symptoms and signs of vaginal atrophy were enrolled in a prospect i ve , double-blind , placebo-controlled study . Women received either 1 g of vaginal gel containing 50 & mgr;g of estriol or placebo gel , daily for 3 weeks and then twice weekly up to 12 weeks . A cytological vaginal study , evaluation of vaginal pH , and assessment of symptoms and signs of vaginal atrophy were performed , and changes between baseline and weeks 3 and 12 were assessed . Adverse events were recorded . Results A total of 167 women were included ( 114 received estriol and 53 received placebo ) . After 12 weeks of therapy , a superiority of estriol compared with placebo gel was shown in the change in maturation value and vaginal pH ( P < 0.001 and P < 0.001 , respectively ) . The superiority of estriol was well demonstrated in improvement of vaginal dryness ( P = 0.001 ) and the Global Symptom Score ( P = 0.018 ) . Estriol gel proved also superior in the improvement of several of the most outst and ing vaginal signs of vaginal atrophy evaluated . After 3 weeks , estriol gel also showed a superiority over the placebo gel in most symptoms and signs evaluated . Treatment-related adverse events were similar among groups . Conclusions 0.005 % Estriol vaginal gel , a new formulation providing an ultra low dose of estriol per application , was shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of postmenopausal vaginal atrophy
HT treatment with estrogens alone or in combination with progestogens was associated with a small to moderate improvement in sexual function , particularly in pain , when used in women with menopausal symptoms or in early postmenopause ( within five years of amenorrhoea ) , but not in unselected postmenopausal women .
The current evidence does not suggest an important effect of tibolone or of SERMs alone or combined with estrogens on sexual function .
BACKGROUND The perimenopausal and postmenopausal periods are associated with many symptoms , including sexual complaints .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of hormone therapy ( HT ) on  sexual function in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women .