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 .
Randomized controlled trial to evaluate transdermal testosterone in female cancer survivors with decreased libido; North Central Cancer Treatment Group protocol N02C3.
BACKGROUND Decreased libido is one of several changes in sexual function that are often experienced by female cancer patients .  Transdermal testosterone therapy has been associated with increased libido among estrogen-replete women who report low libido . METHODS In a phase III r and omized , placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial , we evaluated whether transdermal testosterone would increase sexual desire in female cancer survivors . Postmenopausal women with a history of cancer and no current evidence of disease were eligible if they reported a decrease in sexual desire and had a sexual partner . Eligible women were r and omly assigned to receive 2 % testosterone in Vanicream for a testosterone dose of 10 mg daily or placebo Vanicream for 4 weeks and were then crossed over to the opposite treatment for an additional 4 weeks . The primary endpoint was sexual desire or libido , as measured using the desire subscales of the Changes in Sexual Functioning Question naire , as assessed at baseline and at the end of 4 and 8 weeks of treatment . Serum levels of bioavailable testosterone were measured at the same times . All statistical tests were two-sided . RESULTS We enrolled 150 women . Women who were on active testosterone cream had higher serum levels of bioavailable testosterone than women on placebo ( mean change from baseline , testosterone versus placebo , week 4 , 11.57 % versus 0 % , difference = 11.57 % , 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] = 8.49 % to 14.65 % ; week 8 , 10.21 % versus 0.28 % , difference = 9.92 % , 95 % CI = 5.42 % to 14.42 % ; P<.001 for all ) . However , the average intrapatient libido change from baseline to weeks 4 and 8 was similar on both arms . CONCLUSION Increased testosterone level did not translate into improved libido , possibly because women on this study were estrogen depleted
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 .