WEDNESDAY, Nov. 5, 2008 (Health.com) — Postmenopausal women who have lost interest in sex may be able to bring their libidos back to life with a testosterone patch, according to new research published Wednesday in The New England Journal of Medicine.
However, the use of the male hormone to boost sex drive in women may not be risk-free. Four women in the study who were taking testosterone developed breast cancer, but none of the women on placebo did. It’s not clear whether this was a statistical blip or a warning sign that excess testosterone could cause or spur the growth of a malignancy. Some women also reported excess hair growth, although none stopped using the hormone for this reason.
Susan R. Davis, MD, PhD, of Monash University in Australia, and colleagues in the United States, Canada, and Sweden, evaluated two different doses of testosterone delivered by Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals’ Intrinsa patch. In 2004, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel gave Intrinsa the thumbs down and called for larger, longer studies to ensure that the medication was safe, in addition to proving that it actually helped women’s sex lives.
As the new findings show, it did. Wearing the higher-dose testosterone patch boosted a woman’s “satisfying sexual experiences” by an average of 2.1 times every four weeks, compared to an increase of just 0.7 such experiences for women taking a placebo. Both testosterone doses used in the study seemed to increase desire and decrease distress.
“Although the change in activity is modest, that’s something that is appropriate and I think most women would be more than happy with it,” says study investigator Sheryl A. Kingsberg, PhD, chief of behavioral medicine at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland. “They wanted to return to the level of desire they had in their premenopausal years, and that’s what they got.” Before starting treatment, the women in the study had been having satisfying sex about twice a month on average, Kingsberg points out; the higher-dose patch increased that to once a week.
“For most women and providers of health care for women, that modest benefit is clinically meaningful,” agrees North American Menopause Society president JoAnn V. Pinkerton, MD, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Virginia, in Charlottesville, who did not participate in the study.
Comments (15)
If the FDA ever gets around to approving the testosterone patch (TheTestosteronePatch.com), it could be a godsend for untold thousands of women. Forget about the popularity it may or may not have with “normal” women as a sex aide; there are many who suffer terrible emotional distress over sexual dysfunction. For them, this drug could be a life saver.
Dont go too fast on this seemingly breakthrough.
I had no sign of cancer till using testerone patches
Since I am male I still thought it appropriate.
I hate to be the one to tell you,but, theyv’e had the testerone pacth for yaers, after my hysterectomy I tried every hormone, I was mean one minute crying the next, I went from being a “nympho” to that crazy old lady at the end of the road with the house full of cats!!!lol!! My sister in Ga. told me about the testerone, for some reason my doc didn’t like giving it out though! After my cat story he gladly wrote the script!!! Now a days I’d need about 10,000 milligrams just to turn the bed down!!!!!!!lol!!
I’ve been taking testerone for about 8 years. My husband gives me a shot every 6-8 of .5cc testerone. It has help in the past but I don’t see helping now. The internal medicine doctor prescribed it for me, and now my Gyno, does.
I’m a 56 year old woman. beeen married for 27 year and during my 27th year i have never once experiencend an orsgam. Now I’m a widow have been for nine years and i have met this nice gentleman what i think i want to spend the rest of my lonely days with him. But there is only one problem i still can;t get into the mood i still don’t feel anything.
is there something i can take to resolve this problem . or am i going to die and never experience what a woman should feel like? why is so hard for us women to have an orgasm?
Hi Ada, I’m an editor at Health.com and just wanted to say thank you for commenting on this story. We can’t give medical advice, but we do have a ton of great content on sex drive and low libido, in addition to a list of other articles and Web sites that might be helpful. Take care, Theresa
i had a friend who was put on testosterone for a reason other than libido, but it spiked her libido toward me in a very uncomfortable way and our friendship has never been the same. i tmade me feel creepy. so don’t be so hasty about this innovation.
I have been on testosterone since my hysterectomy in 2002. I use the cream prescribed by my gyn…did not know about the patch..and have loved the results!! VERY affectlive. Check with your doc !!!
I am 41 and have been having testosterone pellets inserted (during an normal office visit) and they last for 3-4 months depending on how much your body uses – they are wonderful as long as you stay on schedule I am a completely different person – NORMAL not the emotional mess that I was. $300.00 every 3 months isurance does not cover. but worth the money for sure!!!
I would love to try this new patch I had a hyst. 7 yrs. ago and my sex life has gone down the drain. the only problem is I already have the brest problems of inlarged glands and would this be a problem for me then? It’s not cancer but I am getting checked with Mamagrams every 6 months now. would this make them grow and maybe turn into cancer? Would I be able to afford them if it didn’t turn them into cancer. My insurance is really bad it doesn’t cover a lot of the meds. I need to take already. I need a med. for Medapose right now but can’t afford it now with my insurance is this new patch affordable or is it priced high along with the other meds.?
I had a total hysterectomy and about 3 years later had the chance to be in a clinical trial for the Intrinsa patch. (I and my husband noticed my sex drive had drastically decreased). I loved the results! Yes, a lot of the feeling is from your mind/brain, but the physical receptors need to work also. After the study was “unblinded” I found out I was on the lowest dose, and I was very happy about that. That study was about 8 years ago and I have been patiently waiting for FDA approval in the U.S. so I can get it here.
First let me say thank-you for the article, its about time some products to help women with their “sexual problems” due to early hysterectomies (mine was done at the age of 23 yrs old) and other situations. You turn on the T.V. and see you all the products for just men and its time for Doctors to help make the transition easier for us women. Im almost 45 yrs old now and noticed my libido is dead – dont think nothing can raise those feelings again till i read this short article. I will be making an appointment to my gyno ASAP. Again thank you for this information.
I am 49 yrs old and do not use a tetosterone patch. I have searched for help for years and lived with a belief that I was hopeless. About a year ago I read an article by a Dr. on post menopause. She suggested L-Arganine. Well, I thought why not. Guess what? It helped. I couldn’t find anything that said it was harmful. Ask your Dr. and try it. Why not. If you felt like I did, Any improvement was welcomed. I went from never, to weekly. May not be as effective for everyone, but something was better than nothing for me.
I’m 22 years into bipolar condition and treated with several medicines. When I use my testosterone cream 3 times a week I have desire and can orgasm. Without it there is no desire or satisfaction. Yes I have hair growth but I would rather have satisfying sex once a week than go for months, I do use a vibrator to orgasm, but if I didn’t use the cream I wouldn’t orgasm.
as close to bioidenic hormones as one can get naturally, at kokoro.com. My sister swears by this stuff. It is progesterone from yams, but it is the only brand that can be called bioidenic, I’m gunna give it a shot later.