Some studies suggest that testosterone therapy has additional effects , which include increased bone mineral density and decreased serum high-density lipoprotein ( HDL ) cholesterol .
The clinical sequelae of oestrogen deficiency during menopause are undoubted .
However , the pathophysiological role of testosterone during the menopause is less clear .
Several r and omized , placebo-controlled clinical trials suggest that testosterone therapy improves sexual function in postmenopausal women .
Testosterone therapy in women with chronic heart failure: a pilot double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.
OBJECTIVES The primary objective of this study was to assess the effect of a 6-month testosterone supplementation therapy on functional capacity and insulin resistance in female patients with chronic heart failure ( CHF ) . BACKGROUND Patients with CHF show decreased exercise capacity and insulin sensitivity . Testosterone supplementation improves these variables in men with CHF . No study has evaluated the effects of testosterone supplementation on female patients with CHF . METHODS Thirty-six elderly female patients with stable CHF , ( ejection fraction 32.9 ± 6 ) were r and omly assigned ( 2:1 ratio ) to receive testosterone transdermal patch ( T group , n = 24 ) or placebo ( P group , n = 12 ) , both on top of optimal medical therapy . At baseline and after 6 months , patients underwent  6-min walking test  ( 6MWT ) , cardiopulmonary exercise test , echocardiogram , quadriceps maximal isometric voluntary contraction , dynamic quadriceps isokinetic strength ( peak torque ) , and insulin resistance assessment by homeostasis model . RESULTS Distance walked at 6MWT as well as peak oxygen consumption significantly improved in the T group , whereas they were unchanged in the P group ( p < 0.05 for all comparisons ) . The homeostasis model was significantly reduced in the T group in comparison with the P group ( -16.5 % vs. + 5 % , respectively ; p < 0.05 ) . Maximal voluntary contraction and peak torque increased significantly in the T group but did not change in the P group . Increase in distance walked at 6MWT was related to the increase in free testosterone levels ( r = 0.593 , p = 0.01 ) . No significant changes in echocardiographic parameters were observed in either group . No side effects requiring discontinuation of T were detected . CONCLUSIONS Testosterone supplementation improves functional capacity , insulin resistance , and muscle strength in women with advanced CHF .  Testosterone seems to be an effective and safe therapy for elderly women with CHF
Some studies suggest that testosterone therapy has additional effects , which include increased bone mineral density and decreased serum high-density lipoprotein ( HDL ) cholesterol .
The clinical sequelae of oestrogen deficiency during menopause are undoubted .
However , the pathophysiological role of testosterone during the menopause is less clear .
Several r and omized , placebo-controlled clinical trials suggest that testosterone therapy improves sexual function in postmenopausal women .