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 .
Effects of testosterone treatment on endometrial proliferation in postmenopausal women.
CONTEXT Available data concerning effects of testosterone on endometrium of postmenopausal women are seriously limited . OBJECTIVE Our aim was to compare the influence of treatment with testosterone and /or estrogen on endometrial proliferation in healthy postmenopausal women . DESIGN This was an open , r and omized clinical study with parallel comparison of the groups . SETTING The study was conducted at a women 's health clinical research unit and a research laboratory at a university hospital . PARTICIPANTS Sixty-three women who had experienced natural menopause participated in this study . INTERVENTIONS After r and om assignment , the participants were administered orally testosterone undecanoate ( 40 mg every second day ) , estradiol valerate ( 2 mg daily ) , or both for 3 months . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Endometrial thickness was measured , and endometrial proliferation evaluated on the basis of histopathology and expression of Ki-67 , a proliferation marker . RESULTS Endometrial thickness was significantly increased by treatment with estrogen alone or in combination with testosterone but was unaltered by testosterone alone . Among the women receiving estrogen alone , the proportion exhibiting histopathology indicative of proliferation increased significantly to 50 % ( P < 0.05 ) , there was a nonsignificant increase to 28 % with the combined treatment , whereas testosterone alone had no effect at all . Expression of Ki-67 was up-regulated significantly in both gl and s and stroma ( P < 0.05 , respectively ) in both estrogen treatment groups . However , the expression was significantly higher in stroma by estrogen treatment alone than after combined treatment ( P < 0.05 ) . CONCLUSIONS The short-term treatment with testosterone of postmenopausal women does not stimulate endometrial proliferation . In addition , testosterone appears to counteract endometrial proliferation induced by estrogen to a certain extent
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 .