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 .
Efficacy of vaginally applied estrogen, testosterone, or polyacrylic acid on sexual function in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial.
INTRODUCTION Female libido is multifactorial and complex . Declining estrogen levels in postmenopausal women affects vaginal function . AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate female sexual function after using topical estrogen , testosterone , or polyacrylic acid as vaginal lubricants with K-Y jelly as a placebo lubricant . METHODS This was a r and omized controlled clinical trial on 80 postmenopausal women between 40 and 70 years of age with follow-up at the Menopause Clinic of the CAISM Unicamp . The women were r and omized to treatment with topical vaginal estrogen , testosterone , polyacrylic acid , or oil lubricant alone , three times a week for a period of 12 weeks from November 2011 to January 2013 . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE We used the Female Sexual Function Index ( FSFI ) to assess changes in sexual response at baseline , and after 6 and 12 weeks . RESULTS After 12 weeks of treatment , polyacrylic acid and topical testosterone produced improvements in the FSFI domains of sexual desire , lubrication , satisfaction , reduced pain during intercourse , and total score compared with lubricant alone . Treatment with topical estrogen in comparison with lubricant alone showed an improvement in the FSFI field of desire . The intragroup analysis over the time of the treatment showed improvements in the fields of desire , lubrication , and reduced pain for polyacrylic acid , testosterone , and estrogen . Furthermore , women who used testosterone showed improvements over time in the fields of arousal , orgasm , and satisfaction . CONCLUSIONS Treatment of postmenopausal women with symptoms of vaginal atrophy with polyacrylic acid , testosterone , and estrogen for 12 weeks produced improvements in self-reported female sexual function when compared with a placebo lubricant
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 .