Postmenopausal women may often suffer from no or low libido. On average, studies have shown that women are roughly twice as likely to have problems with their libido, more so than men.
Hormone therapy experts say the answer for low libido and general disinterest in sex for women could be a case of hormonal imbalance. Experts say that loss of desire and sex drive may be directly related to lower estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone levels, which often happens during menopause or andropause.
According to a new research published in the November 6 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine, postmenopausal women who have lost interest in sex may be able to bring their libidos back to life with a testosterone patch.
"This is the first study to show that when used alone, testosterone administered by a skin patch significantly improves sexual well-being in postmenopausal women," said the study's lead author, Dr. Susan R. Davis, a professor of women's health at Monash University in Australia.
Susan R. Davis, M.D., Ph.D., of Monash University in Australia, and colleagues in the United States, Canada, and Sweden, evaluated two different doses of testosterone delivered by Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals' Intrinsa patch. The patch is already available in Europe to treat lack of sexual desire in women, but the US Food and Drug Administration turned down the manufacturer’s request for approval in December 2004, citing safety concerns.
In the current study, 814 women who had undergone either surgical menopause or natural menopause were randomly assigned to use daily a placebo patch or an Intrinsa patch containing either 150 or 300 micrograms of testosterone. The one-year trial showed that at 24 week of treatment with 300 micrograms of testosterone per day, women on average engaged in sexual activities twice a month compared to less than once a month without the treatment. Wearing the higher-dose testosterone patch boosted a woman's "satisfying sexual experiences" by an average of 2.1 times every four weeks, compared to an increase of just 0.7 such experiences for women taking a placebo. Doses of testosterone were associated with an increase in sexual desire, according to the study.
Four women taking testosterone were diagnosed with breast cancer during the study period. Researchers said that two of them probably had their cancers prior to the start of the study, while another had a high risk of the disease. She has been taken estrogen hormone therapy for 27 years. Studies have shown that long-term estrogen treatment has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and breast cancer in older women.
Hormone therapy integrated with nutrition and fitness programs can help women recover their libido once again. Many doctors say that when it comes to women and libido, testosterone is only part of the equation. Women are more complex and may be prescribed a variety of treatments for low sex drive.
Furthermore, certain major life changes may have the tendency to impact women more, causing them to fell worried. With so many different things to consider, many women let these issues, such as the kids, the house, the groceries and the overall picture interfere with their sex life. Each patient’s situation should be treated uniquely. Hormone therapy should be coupled with proper nutrition and exercise to correct any hormonal imbalance. By using all these therapies, women will certainly feel younger and revitalized.