HT treatment with estrogens alone or in combination with progestogens was associated with a small to moderate improvement in sexual function , particularly in pain , when used in women with menopausal symptoms or in early postmenopause ( within five years of amenorrhoea ) , but not in unselected postmenopausal women .
The current evidence does not suggest an important effect of tibolone or of SERMs alone or combined with estrogens on sexual function .
BACKGROUND The perimenopausal and postmenopausal periods are associated with many symptoms , including sexual complaints .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of hormone therapy ( HT ) on  sexual function in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women .
Dose-response and withdrawal effects on climacteric symptoms after hormonal replacement therapy. A placebo-controlled therapeutic trial.
Out of a sample of 162 early post-menopausal women , aged 45 - 54 yr , 131 completed a placebo-controlled study to investigate the effect of  sex hormones on mild climacteric symptoms  with special reference to the dose-response relationship and withdrawal effects . The women were followed up for 42 mth under four different study programmes . All the women were examined every 3 mth and a blind assessment made of the menopausal index estimated according to Kupperman et al. The data revealed a highly significant reduction in climacteric symptoms in the hormone-treated women as compared with the placebo group ( P less than 0.001 ) , a highly significant dose relationship between climacteric symptoms and treatment with 4 , 2 and 1 mg oestradiol , respectively ( P less than 0.001 ) , a highly significant and dose-dependent rebound phenomenon after withdrawal of hormone treatment ( P less than 0.001)--which levelled off after 6 mth following withdrawal-- and complete relief of hot flushes with the two highest doses of oestradiol ( 4 and 2 mg oestradiol ) . It is concluded that sex hormones have a beneficial effect in post-menopausal women with even mild symptoms
HT treatment with estrogens alone or in combination with progestogens was associated with a small to moderate improvement in sexual function , particularly in pain , when used in women with menopausal symptoms or in early postmenopause ( within five years of amenorrhoea ) , but not in unselected postmenopausal women .
The current evidence does not suggest an important effect of tibolone or of SERMs alone or combined with estrogens on sexual function .
BACKGROUND The perimenopausal and postmenopausal periods are associated with many symptoms , including sexual complaints .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of hormone therapy ( HT ) on  sexual function in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women .