Testosterone therapy in women Does it boost sex drive - Mayo Clinic
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Products and services Does testosterone therapy help increase sex drive in women What are the pros and cons
Answer From Yvonne Butler Tobah, M.D. Research shows that the hormone testosterone may improve sexual function in specific groups of women, but data on safety and effectiveness are limited. The long-term safety of testosterone therapy for women also is unknown. Given the limited research on effectiveness and safety and the number of potential serious side effects, testosterone isn't a common treatment for sexual dysfunction. Testosterone therapy might be appropriate if: You have reduced sex drive, depression and fatigue after surgically induced menopause, and estrogen therapy hasn't relieved your symptoms You are postmenopausal, taking estrogen therapy and have a decreased sex drive with no other identifiable causes Long-term safety data on testosterone therapy for postmenopausal women who have a history of breast or uterine cancer or those who have cardiovascular or liver disease is lacking. Testosterone therapy comes in many forms, such as creams, gels, patches or pills. The method of administration and dose relate to safety risks, so it's important to discuss pros and cons with your doctor. Testosterone preparations are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in women. So if testosterone is prescribed, it's for off-label use. There are a wide variety of factors that can contribute to sexual dysfunction in women, which often has more than one cause. These factors include vaginal dryness, medication side effects, chronic health conditions, loss of a spouse or partner, lack of emotional intimacy, conflict, stress and mood concerns. A multidisciplinary approach to addressing these causes is typically best for improving this condition, as the data on the safety and effectiveness of testosterone remain limited. With Yvonne Butler Tobah, M.D. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. From Mayo Clinic to your inbox
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Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry Menopause hormone therapy: Does it cause vaginal bleeding? ShareTweet June 15, 2021 Show references Korkidakis AK, et al. Testosterone in women: Measurement and therapeutic use. Endocrinology. 2017;39:124. Johansen N, et al. Hormone levels and sexual functioning after risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy. Sexual Medicine. 2018;6:143. Shifren JL. Overview of sexual dysfunction in women: Management. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed May 19, 2021. Krakowsky Y, et al. A practical guide to female sexual dysfunction: An evidence-based review for physicians in Canada. Canadian Urological Association Journal. 2018;12:211. Jayasena CN, et al. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials investigating the efficacy and safety of testosterone therapy for female sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women. Clinical Endrocrinology. 2019;90:391. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Committee on Practice Bulletins - Gynecology. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 213: Female Sexual Dysfunction. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2019; doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000003324. Testosterone. IBM Micromedex 2.0. https://www.micromedexsolutions.com. Accessed April 4, 2019. Davis SR, et al. Androgens and female sexual function and dysfunction-Findings from the Fourth International Consultation of Sexual Medicine. Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2016;13:168. Wein AJ, et al., eds. Sexual function and dysfunction in the female. In: Campbell-Walsh Urology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2016. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed April 4, 2019. Clayton AH, et al. The International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health Process of Care for management of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in women. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2018;93:467. Goldstein I, et al. Hypoactive sexual desire disorder: International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH) Expert Consensus Panel review. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2017;92:114. AskMayoExpert. Sexual dysfunction in women. Mayo Clinic; 2020. See more Expert Answers Products and Services
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