Hormone patch may increase sexual desire in women

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A study suggests that a testosterone patch could increase sexual desire in women after surgical menopause.
Evidence suggests that 30 to 50 per cent of women who have had a surgical menopause (removal of the ovaries, often accompanied by hysterectomy) may experience loss of sexual desire. This probably occurs because levels of the sex hormone testosterone drop. Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center accordingly have looked at the effect of testosterone patches on such women.

The group of 447 women aged 24 to 70 years received either placebo or testosterone patches twice a week. The testosterone was given in one of three doses. Those on the middle dose of 300 micrograms per day had increases in sexual desire of 67 per cent and increases in sexual activity of 79 per cent. The higher dose increased sexual desire but not sexual activity. The findings look promising, but further studies are warranted to assess the safety and efficacy of the testosterone patch.

Source
Archives of Internal Medicine 25th July 2005 Volume 165 pages 1582-1589

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