The pooled estimate from the studies suggested that the addition of testosterone to HT regimens improved sexual function scores for postmenopausal women .
A significant adverse effect was a decrease in high-density lipoprotein ( HDL ) cholesterol levels .
However , there is evidence that adding testosterone to HT has a beneficial effect on sexual function in postmenopausal women .
There was a reduction in HDL cholesterol associated with the addition of testosterone to the HT regimens .
It is , therefore , difficult to estimate the effect of testosterone on sexual function in association with any individual hormone treatment regimen
BACKGROUND : The value of adding testosterone to hormone therapy ( HT ) for the management of peri- and postmenopausal women is controversial and has not been systematic ally review ed .
OBJECTIVES : To determine the benefits and risks of testosterone therapy for peri- and postmenopausal women taking hormone therapy .
Which androgen replacement therapy for women?
Although the postmenopausal ovary remains an important source of testosterone ( T ) production , there is nevertheless a decline in total circulating and rogen levels with age . A role for and rogen replacement in addition to estrogens in some postmenopausal , particularly ovariectomized , women is increasingly gaining acceptance . We have compared the pharmacokinetics of two existing testosterone preparations , oral testosterone undecanoate ( TU ) and sc testosterone implants , with a new matrix transdermal delivery system for T. In study 1 , three different doses of TU ( 40 mg , two 20-mg doses 6 h apart and two 10-mg doses 6 h apart , orally ) were investigated in 10 postmenopausal women .  Median peak levels of 18 nmol/L ( range , 5.8 - 64.0 nmol/L ; 40 mg ) , 12.3 nmol/L ( range , 5.7 - 29.2 nmol/L ; 20 mg ) , and 9.7 nmol/L ( range , 7.8 - 28.7 nmol/L ; 10 mg ) were observed , but T levels varied considerably within and between subjects regardless of the dose used . In study 2 , 30 women receiving s.c . estradiol therapy were r and omized to receive either a 100-mg T implant or placebo . In the T-treated group , levels peaked at 8.9 + /- 1.7 nmol/L 1 month after insertion and then declined gradually to 2.9 + /- 0.4 nmol/L at 6 months . In study 3 , a novel matrix transdermal delivery system for T was investigated in 6 females . Estimated daily delivery rates of 840 ( TD 1 ) , 1100 ( TD2 ) , and 3000 microg ( TD3 ) T/24 h were investigated . T rose rapidly after a single application of TD 1 and TD2 and were relatively constant for the next 18 h , at which time peaks of 2.3 + /- 1.0 and 4.1 + /- 1.6 nmol/L , respectively , at 24 h were seen . T concentrations fell to baseline levels within 6 h after patch removal . When TD2 was applied for 7 days , a T level of 4.3 + /- 0.7 nmol was seen 24 h after application , falling gradually to 2.8 + /- 0.7 nmol/L by day 7 . During twice weekly application of TD2 , stable T concentrations were maintained , and all peak levels were similar ( peak level , 4.2 + /- 0.3 nmol/L 24 h post-TD application ) as were predose troughs ( 3.2 + /- 0.3 nmol ) . Twice weekly application of TD3 produced a similar pattern of T , and the mean peak and trough levels were 7.5 + /- 0.9 and 4.0 + /- 0.4 nmol/L , respectively . In conclusion , TU produced inappropriate high T levels at all doses , with wide variations between subjects , confirming that TU is unpredictably absorbed and unlikely to be satisfactory for use in women . Subcutaneous testosterone implants produce unphysiological T levels for at least 1 - 2 months . The transdermal matrix delivery system maintained relatively stable T levels within narrow ranges with little within- and between-subject variation . We conclude that such transdermal systems may be of value for and rogen therapy in postmenopausal women because they provide a highly controllable way of delivering T noninvasively and reliably , and achieve mean physiological levels not possible with existing methods
The pooled estimate from the studies suggested that the addition of testosterone to HT regimens improved sexual function scores for postmenopausal women .
A significant adverse effect was a decrease in high-density lipoprotein ( HDL ) cholesterol levels .
However , there is evidence that adding testosterone to HT has a beneficial effect on sexual function in postmenopausal women .
There was a reduction in HDL cholesterol associated with the addition of testosterone to the HT regimens .
It is , therefore , difficult to estimate the effect of testosterone on sexual function in association with any individual hormone treatment regimen
BACKGROUND : The value of adding testosterone to hormone therapy ( HT ) for the management of peri- and postmenopausal women is controversial and has not been systematic ally review ed .
OBJECTIVES : To determine the benefits and risks of testosterone therapy for peri- and postmenopausal women taking hormone therapy .