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Testosterone Patch Improves Sexual Desire in Postmenopausal Women
A testosterone patch helps increase sexual desire in postmenopausal women not taking estrogen, according to a manufacturer-conducted study in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Some 800 women with low sexual desire underwent randomization either to placebo or to 150- or 300-µg daily doses of testosterone delivered via patch. After 24 weeks' treatment, those on the 300-µg dose reported a significant increase over baseline values in the number of satisfying sexual episodes over the final 4-week period — in effect, an additional two episodes per month. Placebo recipients showed a smaller increase. Both testosterone doses increased desire levels and lowered personal distress, compared with placebo.
Safety assessment at 52 weeks' treatment revealed a modest increase in unwanted hair growth among the 300-µg group relative to placebo. However, few women discontinued treatment as a result of this side effect. There was a nonsignificant increase in breast cancer, prompting the authors to call for more studies.
The authors say the treatment effect "was modest but appeared to be clinically meaningful."
LINK(S):
NEJM article (Free abstract; full text requires subscription)
NEJM editorial (Subscription required)
Journal Watch General Medicine summary (Subscription required)
Journal Watch Women's Health summary (Subscription required)
Published in Physician's First Watch November 6, 2008
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