Cited by 954Hormonal and reproductive studiesSexual function and dysfunction studiesMenopause: Health Impacts and Treatments

Transdermal testosterone treatment in women with impaired sexual function after oophorectomy.

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Shifren, Jan L., Braunstein, Glenn D., Simon, James A., Casson, Peter R., Buster, John E., Redmond, Geoffrey P., Burki, Regula E., Ginsburg, Elizabeth S. +6 more·2000·New England Journal of Medicine

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The ovaries provide approximately half the circulating testosterone in premenopausal women. After bilateral oophorectomy, many women report impaired sexual functioning despite estrogen replacement. We evaluated the effects of transdermal testosterone in women who had impaired sexual function after surgically induced menopause. METHODS: Seventy-five women, 31 to 56 years old, who had undergone oophorectomy and hysterectomy received conjugated equine estrogens (at least 0.625 mg per day orally) and, in random order, placebo, 150 microg of testosterone, and 300 microg of testosterone per day transdermally for 12 weeks each. Outcome measures included scores on the Brief Index of Sexual Functioning for Women, the Psychological General Well-Being Index, and a sexual-function diary completed over the telephone. RESULTS: The mean (+/-SD) serum free testosterone concentration increased from 1.2+/-0.8 pg per milliliter (4.2+/-2.8 pmol per liter) during placebo treatment to 3.9+/-2.4 pg per milliliter (13.5+/-8.3 pmol per liter) and 5.9+/-4.8 pg per milliliter (20.5+/-16.6 pmol per liter) during treatment with 150 and 300 microg of testosterone per day, respectively (normal range, 1.3 to 6.8 pg per milliliter [4.5 to 23.6 pmol per liter]). Despite an appreciable placebo response, the higher testosterone dose resulted in further increases in scores for frequency of sexual activity and pleasure-orgasm in the Brief index of Sexual Functioning for Women (P=0.03 for both comparisons with placebo). At the higher dose the percentages of women who had sexual fantasies, masturbated, or engaged in sexual intercourse at least once a week increased two to three times from base line. The positive-well-being, depressed-mood, and composite scores of the Psychological General Well-Being Index also improved at the higher dose (P=0.04, P=0.03, and P=0.04, respectively, for the comparison with placebo), but the scores on the telephone-based diary did not increase significantly. CONCLUSIONS: In women who have undergone oophorectomy and hysterectomy, transdermal testosterone improves sexual function and psychological well-being.

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  • Another androgen (testosterone) improves sexual function in surgically menopausal women.

    “Another androgen (testosterone) also improves sexual function in surgically menopausal women (55,56).”
  • In the same study, mood was significantly improved with the higher testosterone dose for ratings of both depression and 'positive well-being'.

    “Mood was significantly improved with the higher testosterone dose for ratings of both depression and 'positive well-being'.”

    From The endocrinology of sexual arousal (2005) · cites this paper as Shifren et al. (2000)

  • In women who had undergone surgical menopause 1-10 years previously, all with impaired sexual function and on Premarin, there was a substantial placebo response; however, there was significantly more improvement with the higher testosterone dose than with placebo on measures of frequency of sexual activity, and pleasure/orgasm, though not for sexual desire or arousal.

    “There was a substantial placebo response; however, there was significantly more improvement with the higher testosterone dose than with placebo on measures of frequency of sexual activity, and pleasure/orgasm, though not for sexual desire or arousal (the opposite pattern reported by Sherwin et al. 1985).”

    From The endocrinology of sexual arousal (2005) · cites this paper as Shifren et al. (2000)

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [1]1. Southren AL, Gordon GG, Tochimoto S. Further study of factors af- fecting the metabolic clearance of testosterone in man. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1968;28:1105-12.
  2. [24]24. Bird CE, Clark AF. Biokinetics of 3H-5-dihydrotestosterone metabolism in normal men and women and men with prostatic carcinoma; effects of es- trogen administration in men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1972;34:467-72.

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Authors
Shifren, J. L., Braunstein, G. D., Simon, J. A., Casson, P. R., Buster, J. E., Redmond, G. P., Burki, R. E., Ginsburg, E. S., Rosen, R. C., Leiblum, S. R., Caramelli, K. E., Jones, K. P., Daugherty, C. A., & Mazer, N. A.
Affiliations
  • Massachusetts General Hospital (US)
  • Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (US)
  • Baylor College of Medicine (US)
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
  • University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (US)
Venue
New England Journal of Medicine
Published
2000-09-07
Volume
343
Issue
10
Pages
682-688
ISSN
  • 0028-4793 (ISSN-L)
  • 1533-4406
OpenAlex
W2336273414
Cited by
954
References
29
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 64 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 33 · 2015: 29 · 2014: 38 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 37
FWCI
38.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • New England Journal of Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Sexual function and dysfunction studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments
Keywords
transdermal testosterone, testosterone replacement therapy, sexual dysfunction, oophorectomy, surgical menopause, hysterectomy, conjugated equine estrogens, estrogen replacement therapy, sexual function, psychological well-being, serum free testosterone, sexual frequency, orgasm, sexual fantasies
MeSH terms
Administration, Cutaneous, Adult, Depression, Double-Blind Method, Drug Therapy, Combination, Estrogens, Female, Humans, Hysterectomy, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Ovariectomy, Sexual Behavior, Gonadal Steroid Hormones, Testosterone, Postmenopause, Cross-Over Studies

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