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Methyltestosterone/Oestrogen Therapy Improves Sexual Interest in Surgically Menopausal Women: Presented at NAMS

By Deanna M Green, PhD

MIAMI, FL -- September 25, 2003 -- Combinatorial oral esterified oestrogens and methyltestosterone treatment significantly improved sexual interest and increased free testosterone levels compared with oestrogen alone in women with surgically-induced menopause.

The finding was presented here September 19^th at the 14^th Annual Meeting of The North American Menopause Society.

Women commonly experience a loss or absence of sexual desire with the onset of menopause. This loss is also seen in women who experience menopause due to surgical removal of the ovaries, who tend be younger than naturally menopausal women.

One potential cause of diminished sexual interest is a deficiency of bioavailable oestrogen and testosterone. Studies have shown that the addition of androgen to oestrogen treatment can improve sexual interest, energy, and psychomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women. However these effects have not been analysed specifically in surgically-induced menopausal women.

Ray W Borel, PharmD, with Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Marietta, Georgia, United States, and colleagues evaluated the effects of combined esterified oestrogen and methyltestosterone on sexual interest in women with surgically-induced menopause.

The prospective study included 102 women between the ages of 25 and 65 years old that underwent hysterectomy with a bilateral salpingo-oophrectomy and experienced loss of sexual desire. Patients were randomised to receive either combined oral esterified oestrogens and methyltestosterone (EEMT, Estratest Tablets, Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) or oral esterified oestrogens alone (EE, two Estratab Tablets, 0.625 mg each) for 8 weeks.

Sexual dysfunction was measured by the general Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ-F-C) and the Sexual Interest Questionnaire (SIQ), which was developed specifically for postmenopausal women. Circulating sex hormone concentrations were also determined.

Overall, the researchers observed significantly greater increases in SIQ total score, sexual interest and desire subscale score, and responsiveness scores after 8 weeks of treatment with EEMT as compared to EE therapy.

While improvement was seen in the CSFQ-F-C arousal/erection subscale score, no significant improvements were seen in CSFQ-F-C total scores. This may indicate that the CSFQ-F-C is not an appropriate measure for this group of women, Dr. Borel said.

Significant increases in free and bioavailable estradiol and free and bioavailable testosterone levels were also seen in patients receiving EEMT therapy. And patients receiving EEMT also showed a significant decrease in total estradiol, total testosterone, estrone, and sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels.

"The results support the use of methyltestosterone as an adjunct to oestrogen replacement in surgically menopausal women with diminished sexual interest/desire," Dr. Borel concluded. "This represents the first time significant changes in free testosterone levels have been associated with significant changes in sexual interest and functioning."


[Study title: Combined Esterified Estrogen and Methyltestosterone Compared to Esterified Estrogens Alone in the Treatment of Loss of Sexual Interest in Surgically Menopausal Women. Poster-40]

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