Testosterone patch increases sexual activity and desire in surgically menopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder.

CONTEXT: Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is one of the most common sexual problems reported by women, but few studies have been conducted to evaluate treatments for this condition.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a testosterone patch in surgically menopausal women with HSDD.

DESIGN: The design was a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, 24-wk study (the Intimate SM 1 study).

SETTING: The study was performed at private or institutional practices.

PATIENTS: The subjects studied were women, aged 26-70 yr, with HSDD after bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy who were receiving concomitant estrogen therapy. Placebo (n = 279) or testosterone 300 microg/d (n = 283) was administered. There were 19 patients who withdrew due to adverse events in the placebo group and 24 in the 300 mug/d testosterone group.

INTERVENTION: Testosterone (300 microg/d) or placebo patches were applied twice weekly.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The primary end point was the change in the frequency of total satisfying sexual activity at 24 wk. Secondary end points included other sexual functioning end points and safety assessments.

RESULTS: At 24 wk, there was an increase from baseline in the frequency of total satisfying sexual activity of 2.10 episodes/4 wk in the testosterone group, which was significantly greater than the change of 0.98 episodes/4 wk in the placebo group (P = 0.0003). The testosterone group also experienced statistically significant improvements in sexual desire and a decrease in distress. The overall safety profile was similar in both treatment groups.

CONCLUSION: In the Intimate SM 1 study, the testosterone patch improved sexual function and decreased distress in surgically menopausal women with HSDD and was well tolerated in this trial.