Boosting Desire: Testogel's Impact on Testosterone in Post-Menopausal Women

[madman]

A single centre study to describe the changes in serum testosterone concentration following application of testogel in post-menopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSSD) already receiving this as part of usual care in conjunction wit

www.endocrine-abstracts.org

Introduction

HSDD is characterized by long-term decrease in sexual desire (low-libido) causing personal distress. HSDD predominantly affects postmenopausal women or following oophorectomy. Despite the clear indication that testosterone supplementation could overcome the symptoms of HSDD by elevating testosterone levels, there is little research concerning this. For decades many post-menopausal women have been prescribed off-label testosterone, an approved therapy for men, at a modified dose. The purpose of this study was to determine the blood levels of testosterone in post-menopausal women with HSDD treated with Testogel©.


Methods

All 15 women were applying Testogel© via pump once every 3 days and had been prescribed Testogel© for at least 6 months. All were additionally taking estrogen based HRT. They attended for a testosterone day curve with Testogel© at the dose of 20.25 mg applied after an initial blood test. Samples were taken 2 hourly for 10 hours and at 24 hours post-Testogel-application. Testosterone was measured by mass spectrometry. The Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI) was completed by the women.


Results

Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI) median score was 26.5/36 (25-75% interquartile range 18-30) with highest domain scores for sexual satisfaction and arousal (4.2/6) and slightly lower scores for orgasm and desire (4.0/6) and no reported issues re pain on intercourse. All women subjectively reported an improvement in sexual function with Testogel©. Maximum testosterone varied from 1.3-10.3 nmol/L with the time maximum level was reached varying from 2-24 hours. Area under curve (AUC) testosterone varied substantially from 23.4 to 222.6. Half-life of testosterone also varied from 22 to 40 hours. There was a positive correlation between BMI and AUC testosterone beta=7.54 (95%CI 4.39-10.7) P<0.001. No symptoms of hyperandrogenism were reported.


Conclusion

We found considerable variation in all parameters relating to testosterone pharmacokinetics in women applying Testogel©. All women reported clinical benefit with no reports of androgen related side-effects.