Female Testosterone Patch Restores Sexual Desire in Post-Menopausal Women
 Female Testosterone Patch Restores Sexual Desire in Post-Menopausal Women
CLEVELAND -- A promising new
treatment for women suffering from dwindling sexual desire involves the
delivery of testosterone through a skin patch worn on the abdomen. The
investigational testosterone patch, known as Intrinsa, was studied at
University Hospitals of Cleveland's MacDonald Women's Hospital.
"The testosterone patch definitely enhanced and renewed the relationship with my partner, now going on 19 years," says Jean Toth, 56, of Eastlake, Ohio.
"The patch has affected me overall -- it has helped to improve my life.
I look better, I feel better and I take more pride in myself." Four
years ago, Ms. Toth noticed a decline in her sexual desire. Last year,
she volunteered for the clinical trial testing the patch and noticed
immediate results. "I just knew I wasn't on the placebo."
The 24-week study of Intrinsa, the investigational patch developed by
Proctor & Gamble, involved 533 postmenopausal women at 50 medical
centers. Results indicated dramatically improved sexual desire and
satisfaction.
The women had been diagnosed with Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder.
Decreased sexual desire and satisfaction is a common consequence of
total hysterectomy or natural menopause. Lack of sexual desire can lead
to feelings of unhappiness, frustration, and can add strain to
relationships.
"Research has found that about one in three surgically menopausal women
and one in 10 naturally menopausal women express sexual desire
complaints, which often leads to personal distress and relationship
issues," says Sheryl Kingsberg, PhD,
clinical psychologist at University Hospitals MacDonald Women's
Hospital, and one of the study's lead investigators. "The patch
Intrinsa is for postmenopausal women who have lost testosterone
directly related to their loss of ovarian function. The patch actually
restores sexual desire back to the pretreatment levels women had
before."
Widely known as a male sex hormone, testosterone is produced naturally
in female ovaries and adrenal glands. Testosterone has been proven to
have a direct connection to female sexual desire and function.
The women involved in the study at University Hospitals had had one or
more ovaries removed and were in stable, monogamous relationships. Each
patient had been receiving estrogen therapy before the study began.
Those women who were using the testosterone patch for 24 weeks
experienced significant improvements in arousal, orgasm and self-image.
If approved by the Food and Drug Administration, the female
testosterone patch would be the first therapy to be specifically
authorized to improve sexual desire in women.
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Posted on Wednesday, July 07, 2004 (Archive on Wednesday, July 14, 2004) |
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