Women with sexual desire disorder find success with testosterone patch

An investigational testosterone transdermal patch (Intrinsa) increases sexual activity and desire and decreases personal distress in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder, according to study results presented at the North American Menopause Society annual meeting.

The phase III study included 549 naturally menopausal women (mean age, 54 years) with hypoactive sexual desire disorder and on stable doses of oral estrogen with or without progestin. The women received either placebo or the testosterone patch, 300 mcg/day twice weekly for 24 weeks.

The patch significantly increased total satisfying sexual episodes (2.1 episodes/4 weeks) compared with placebo (0.5 episodes/4 weeks).

"This is the first large, placebo-controlled study in naturally menopausal women demonstrating improved sexual function with testosterone therapy," wrote the authors, led by Jan Shifren, MD, of Harvard Medical School.