Abstract
The aim of this review was to summarize the literature regarding the potential role of testosterone
therapy for women.
Methods The author conducted a search of the literature using Medline (Ovid, 1946 ? present) and PubMed
(1966 ? 2013) for English-language studies that included the following search terms: ` testosterone ? or ` androgen ?
combined with ` women ? , ` therapy ? or ` treatment ? .
Results Randomized, placebo-controlled trials have consistently shown that transdermal testosterone
therapy improves sexual desire, arousal, orgasm frequency and satisfaction in premenopausal and
postmenopausal women presenting with sexual desire/arousal problems. No adverse metabolic effects have
been observed in these studies. In postmenopausal women, testosterone therapy has also been associated
with favorable effects on body composition, bone, cardiovascular function and cognitive performance.
Conclusions Although androgens have many varied roles, the focus of testosterone therapy for women has
been on improving sexual desire. Not only do testosterone effects on sexuality extend beyond libido,
but testosterone has other key physiological actions. Issues that urgently need to be addressed include approval
of a testosterone formulation that delivers a female dose such that physicians refrain from prescribing
compounded testosterone or modifying doses of testosterone formulated for men and regulation of prescription
of compounded androgens for women
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 18 - 24 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Climacteric |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | Suppl 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2013 |