SAN DIEGO, Jun 15 (Reuters Health) -- A testosterone patch appears to help improve sexual function in women who have undergone menopause because of surgical removal of the ovaries, results of a study suggest.
The patch does not appear to interfere with the estrogen replacement therapy used to restore natural hormone levels that drop after the surgery, according to a study presented at The Endocrine Society meeting on Tuesday.
In the study, 75 women who were mostly in their late 40s were treated for a 3-month period with two (inactive) placebo patches, followed by treatment with one placebo and one testosterone patch and then two testosterone patches.
The testosterone patch is a product under development by TheraTech Inc. in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, Cincinnati, Ohio -- the companies that funded the research.
Dr. Glenn Braunstein, of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center - University of California, Los Angeles, reported that overall, there was no significant change on a composite score of sexual function in the women.
However, at the higher dose of testosterone, the subscales for sexual pleasure and orgasm did improve significantly overall, the researchers found.
When women received the higher dose of testosterone, there was a significant increase in the frequency of any kind of sexual activity.
"The rationale is that 50% of circulating testosterone is derived from the ovaries," Braunstein explained at a press conference.
The study findings suggest "that the small amounts of testosterone normally produced by a woman's ovaries are important for maintaining sexual function and that loss of ovarian testosterone production can markedly diminish the quality of life for some women," according to a statement issued by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
While using one active patch, patients had testosterone levels in the mid-normal range for premenopausal women, and while using two patches they exhibited levels in the high-normal range.
Aside from one woman who discontinued testosterone because of a local skin reaction, the patches were well tolerated. Transdermal testosterone delivery did not alter estrogen levels, increase acne or hirsutism, or change blood lipid levels.
"There are a number of pharmacies in the United States right now that will make up testosterone creams under prescription from a physician," Braunstein said at the press conference. "They're allowed to do that without having to show safety or efficacy. I've seen a number of women who have received those creams... some have sky-high testosterone levels... there's a lot of variability."
"One of the reasons why I think more work needs to be done in this area is really the safety issue," Braunstein continued. "A lot of (women) are getting testosterone, but because there's no preparation that has been fully tested... there's real potential for harm."
