Male hormone patch increases libido in women: One more effort to go against the natural law

Postmenopausal women with low sexual desire levels reported improved sexual function after they were treated with a patch in which the male hormone testosterone was applied through the skin, a clinical study has found. However, more studies are needed to confirm the safety of this treatment.

"Many postmenopausal women continue to be sexually active despite a high level of sexual dissatisfaction, engaging in sexual activity to please their partner and maintain domestic harmony," lead author Dr. Susan R. Davis, at Monash University in Prahran, Australia, and fellow researchers note.

While testosterone has proved effective for increasing libido among postmenopausal women who are on hormone replacement therapy, the effectiveness of this approach in women who are not taking estrogen is unknown.

There has also been some concern that testosterone administered without being tempered by another hormone may adversely affect circulating lipid (fat) levels, glucose (sugar) metabolism or breast tissue.

The APHRODITE trial , conducted at 65 centers in Australia, Europe, and North America, included postmenopausal women who reported significant loss of sexual desire that was causing personal distress.

 An increase in the frequency of satisfying sexual episodes was significantly greater in the group receiving the 300 g testosterone dose than the placebo group, but not significantly greater in the group that received the lower dose of testosterone.

Both testosterone groups also had significantly increased scores for sexual desire and decreases in personal distress.

"The increase in the frequency of satisfying sexual episodes was modest but appeared to be clinically meaningful," the authors comment.

The most common hormone side effect was an increase in unwanted hair growth in the higher-dose group. The frequency and severity of other side effects events -- acne, baldness, and voice deepening -- did not differ between the treatment groups. There were no clinically relevant changes in blood lipid levels, glucose metabolism or liver function in any of the groups.