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 .
Safety and efficacy of a testosterone patch for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in surgically menopausal women: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
BACKGROUND Oophorectomy reduces serum testosterone levels . We studied the efficacy and safety of transdermal testosterone in treating hypoactive sexual desire disorder in surgically menopausal women . METHODS A 24-week , r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled , parallel-group , multicenter trial was conducted in women ( aged 24 - 70 years ) who developed distressful low sexual desire after bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and hysterectomy and who were receiving oral estrogen therapy .  Women were r and omized to receive placebo ( n = 119 ) or testosterone patches in dosages of 150 microg/d ( n = 107 ) , 300 microg/d ( n = 110 ) , or 450 microg/d ( n = 111 ) twice weekly for 24 weeks . Sexual desire and frequency of satisfying sexual activity were primary efficacy outcome measures . RESULTS Of the 447 women r and omized , 318 ( 71 % ) completed the trial . Compared with placebo , women receiving the 300-microg/d testosterone patch had significantly greater increases from baseline in sexual desire ( 67 % vs 48 % ; P = .05 ) and in frequency of satisfying sexual activity ( 79 % vs 43 % ; P = .049 ) . The 150-microg/d group showed no evidence of a treatment effect . The 450-microg/d group also was not statistically different from the 300-microg/d or placebo groups . Marginally significant linear dose-response trends were observed for total satisfying sexual activity and sexual desire at 24 weeks ( P = .06 and .06 , respectively ) . Adverse events occurred with similar frequency in both groups ; no serious safety concerns were observed . CONCLUSIONS The 300-microg/d testosterone patch increased sexual desire and frequency of satisfying sexual activity and was well tolerated in women who developed hypoactive sexual desire disorder after surgical menopause
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 .