Male Hormones Patch may Boost Sex Drive in Women
It has been approved for use in many European countries for a condition termed hypoactive
sexual desire disorder, which can be triggered by surgical menopause. Intrinsic was rejected by the US Food and Drug Administration. Women who used the patch experienced twice the number of satisfactory events than women using a placebo patch.The new study has detailed significant benefits of testosterone in the bedroom. Aussie scientists have found a simple way to boost sex drive in older women-a stomach patch loaded with the male hormone testosterone.
In a review of several clinical trials, the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, published by the British Medical Journal group, found flaws in the design of most of the tests and pointed to what it said was troubling side effects. According to sexual health specialist Professor Basil novas, of the University of Sydney, it was possible that the side effects could worsen with time, but the results were promising overall.
Before the study, the women enjoyed half their sexual encounters. However, after six months, those on the testosterone patch had an extra two satisfying experiences a month, in contrast with 0.7 among the placebo group.
For a natural boost to the sex drive, the researchers recommended general improvements to health through a better diet, more exercise, less alcohol and fewer life stresses. During menopause, sex drive can drop to very low levels. Some women find they don't think about sex nearly as much as they used to before menopause. Others find they want to have sex, but just aren't enjoying it enough to make it worth the effort. Decreased libido is thought to be due to lowered levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone present in your body during menopause.
The patch, developed by US Drug Company Procter and Gamble, is not yet available in Australia. The women enjoyed half their sexual encounters before the study, but six months on those on the testosterone patch had an extra two satisfying experiences a month, compared with 0.7 among the placebo group.
The published evidence so far is based on highly selected women and only shows small improvements in sexual parameters and large placebo responses," Ike Iheanacho, editor of the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, which published the review of published studies, said on Tuesday. Also the long term safety of the treatment is unknown. Unwanted side effects are common and not always reversible. For all these reasons, we cannot recommend Intrinsic for use in women with sexual dysfunction.
However, the testosterone boost did bring masculinising side effects-a modest increase in unwanted body hair, but no change in voice pitch. She also said that there wasnervousness" among women in using a male hormone, "but women actually have more testosterone in their blood at any given time than estrogen".
Male Hormones Patch may Boost Sex Drive in Women
By: Dr. Mital John