Testosterone patch for low sexual desire in surgically menopausal women: a randomized trial
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of a 300 mug/d testosterone patch for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in surgically menopausal women on concomitant estrogen therapy. METHODS: Five hundred thirty-three women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder who had undergone previous hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy were enrolled in a 24-week, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patients were randomly assigned to receive placebo or the testosterone patch twice weekly. The primary efficacy endpoint was change from baseline at week 24 in the frequency of total satisfying sexual activity, measured by the Sexual Activity Log. Secondary measures included sexual desire using the Profile of Female Sexual Function and personal distress as measured by the Personal Distress Scale. Hormone levels, adverse events, and clinical laboratory measures were reviewed. RESULTS: Total satisfying sexual activity significantly improved in the testosterone patch group compared with placebo after 24 weeks (mean change from baseline, 1.56 compared with 0.73 episodes per 4 weeks, P = .001). Treatment with the testosterone patch also significantly improved sexual desire (mean change, 10.57 compared with 4.29, P < .001) and decreased personal distress (P = .009). Serum free, total, and bioavailable testosterone concentrations increased from baseline. Overall, adverse events were similar in both groups (P > .05). The incidence of androgenic adverse events was higher in the testosterone group; most androgenic adverse events were mild. CONCLUSION: In surgically menopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder, a 300 mug/d testosterone patch significantly increased satisfying sexual activity and sexual desire, while decreasing personal distress, and was well tolerated through up to 24 weeks of use.
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Among adult women, endogenous testosterone does not show significant correlations with sexual behavior, but exogenous testosterone treatment in women has been found to increase sexual desire, sexual activity, and sexual self-image.
“Among adult women, endogenous testosterone does not show significant correlations with sexual behavior (Roney and Simmons, 2013), but exogenous testosterone treatment in women has been found to increase sexual desire, sexual activity, and sexual self-image (Buster et al., 2005, Davis et al., 2006, Shifren et al., 2006).”
From Becoming a sexual being: The “elephant in the room” of adolescent brain development (2017) · cites this paper as Buster et al., 2005
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- Authors
- Buster, J. E., Kingsberg, S. A., Aguirre, O., Brown, C., Breaux, J. G., Buch, A., Rodenberg, C. A., Wekselman, K., & Casson, P.
- Affiliations
- Baylor College of Medicine (US)
- University of Vermont (US)
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center (US)
- University Hospitals of Cleveland (US)
- Corresponding author
- Buster, John E.
- Breaux, Jeffrey G.
- Venue
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Published
- 2005-05
- Volume
- 105
- Issue
- 5, Part 1
- Pages
- 944-952
- ISSN
- 0029-7844 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2333490567
- Cited by
- 433
- References
- 33
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 31
- FWCI
- 29.48
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Obstetrics and Gynecology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Sexual function and dysfunction studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments
- Keywords
- testosterone patch, hypoactive sexual desire disorder, hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, estrogen therapy, sexual desire, sexual activity, personal distress
- MeSH terms
- Administration, Cutaneous, Adult, Aged, Delayed-Action Preparations, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Hysterectomy, Libido, Menopause, Middle Aged, Probability, Prognosis, Reference Values, Sexual Behavior, Testosterone, Treatment Outcome, Patient Satisfaction, Risk Assessment
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