-------------Testosterone works after hysterectomy

By Edward Edelson
　　HealthSCOUT Reporter
　　
　　WEDNESDAY, Sept. 6 (HealthSCOUT) -- A testosterone skin patch can improve the sex life of women who have had their ovaries removed surgically, a study finds.
　　But it's not a Viagra for women -- at least, not yet.

While testosterone is classified as a male sex hormone, it is also present in women, and its presence has been linked to sexual performance and satisfaction in both men and women. The new study enlisted women, none older than 56, who experienced a sudden drop of about 50 percent in testosterone levels when they had their ovaries and uteri removed for medical reasons.

"We returned their testosterone levels to the normal range, using skin patches, and discovered that they had a greater frequency of sexual activity and pleasure than women receiving a placebo," says lead study author Dr. Jan L. Shifren, a reproductive endocrinologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. The results are reported in the Sept. 7 New England Journal of Medicine.

Those results don't necessarily apply to women who have lower testosterone levels because of menopause, Shifren says. But that idea cannot be ruled out, says the study's designer, Dr. Norman A. Mazer, senior medical research fellow at Watson Laboratories, a pharmaceutical company.

"The possibility exists that women who have low testosterone levels from any cause may benefit from the restoration of normal testosterone levels by use of the patch," Mazer says.

Removal of the ovaries causes a very sudden, literally overnight drop in testosterone levels, he says. The decrease that comes with menopause varies from woman to woman and occurs over years, but the ultimate decrease may equal that caused by removal of the ovaries. More studies will be needed to see whether the testosterone patch can affect the sex life of these women, Mazer says.

The 36-week study involving 75 women is the first step in a program aimed at getting U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of testosterone patches to improve sexual function in women whose ovaries have been removed. Procter and Gamble Pharmaceuticals (which sponsored the study) and Watson Laboratories, who together hope to market the patch, now are recruiting participants for a larger study at a number of medical centers in the United States, Europe and Australia.

The current study enlisted women whose ovaries were removed and who answered "yes" to three questions:

At any time before surgery, would you have characterized your sex life as active and satisfactory?
　　Since your surgery, has your sex life become less active or less satisfying?
　　Would you prefer your sex life to be more active or more satisfying than it is now?
　　The women who met those criteria went through three, 12-week treatment periods in which they got patches containing 150 micrograms of testosterone, 300 micrograms of the hormone, or a placebo. All the women, including those on placebo, reported better sex lives, but the improvement was greatest for the higher dose of testosterone.

"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 level," the researchers report.

The overall mood of the women given the highest dose was also lifted, the study says.

And Shifren says there were "no clinically significant adverse effects," an important consideration since potential side effects include excess hair growth, acne and impaired liver function.

However, another recent study suggests a link between higher testosterone levels and development of endometrial cancer.

What To Do

Women age 20 to 70 who have undergone surgical menopause and are experiencing impaired sexual functioning can get information about eligibility for the new study by calling (877) 549-6636.

For information and referrals on sexuality and related problems, visit the Sexual Health Network. If you think you might benefit from sex therapy, go to the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists.

The National Women's Health Information Center has information on sexuality and other health issues for women, including hysterectomy.

(From HealthSCOUT)