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 treatment of HSDD in naturally menopausal women: the ADORE study
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a transdermal testosterone patch ( TTP , 300 μg/day ) in naturally menopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder ( HSDD ) . Methods A total of 272 naturally menopausal women , predominantly not using hormone therapy , were r and omized in this 6-month , placebo-controlled , double-blind , multicenter study to receive twice weekly either TTP or an identical placebo . Efficacy endpoints measured were the 4-week frequency of satisfying sexual episodes ( SSE ) using the Sexual Activity Log , the sexual desire domain of the Profile of Female Sexual Function and distress by the Personal Distress Scale . Safety was assessed by adverse events , laboratory parameters and hormone levels . Results The TTP group demonstrated significant improvements in SSE ( p = 0.0089 ) as well as in sexual desire ( p = 0.0007 ) and reduced personal distress ( p = 0.0024 ) versus placebo at 6 months ( intent-to-treat analysis , n = 247 ) . The results were significant for all three endpoints in the subgroup ( n = 199 ) not using hormone therapy . Similar numbers of women treated with placebo and TTP discontinued ( n = 39 , 27.5 % vs. n = 26 , 20 % ) , reported adverse events ( including application site reactions ) ( n = 101 , 71.1 % vs. n = 81 , 62.3 % ) and withdrew due to adverse events ( n = 20 , 14.1 % vs. n = 9 , 6.9 % ) . No clinical ly relevant changes were noted in laboratory parameters . Serum free and total testosterone levels increased from baseline in the TTP group ( geometric means 5.65 pg/ml and 67.8 ng/dl , respectively , at week 24 ) within the physiological range ; no changes were seen in estradiol and sex hormone binding globulin levels . Conclusions TTP was effective in treating HSDD and improving sexual function in this study of naturally menopausal women with and without concurrent hormone therapy
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 .