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 addition during menopausal hormone therapy: effects on mammographic breast density
Objective To study the effect on mammographic breast density of testosterone addition during combined estrogen/progestogen therapy in postmenopausal women . Methods A prospect i ve , r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial . A total of 99 women were given 2 mg 17β-estradiol and 1 mg norethisterone acetate in combination with either a testosterone patch ( 300 μg/24 h ) or a placebo patch . Mammographic breast density at baseline and after 6 months was assessed by visual classification scales and by digitized quantification . A st and ardized question naire was used to quantify subjective breast symptoms . Results Visual classifications showed an increase in mammographic density in 18–30 % of the women , with no significant differences between the treatment groups . The mean increase of the area of dense breast during treatment according to digitized assessment was 7.4 % in the placebo group and 5.4 % in the testosterone group . Breast symptoms showed a positive association with the increase in density ( rs = 0.34 ; p < 0.01 ) . Symptoms were most pronounced at 2 months of treatment . Density , both at baseline ( rs = −0.35 ; p < 0.01 ) and change during treatment ( rs = −0.28 ; p < 0.01 ) showed a negative association with free testosterone levels . Conclusion The addition of testosterone does not appear to influence mammographic breast density in women concurrently treated with a common oral estrogen/progestogen regimen for a period of 6 months
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 .