Clinical evaluation of women presenting with low libido and determination of whether androgen therapy might be appropriate

Seminars in Reproductive Medicine

Volumn 24, Issue 2, 2006, Pages 86-96

  Papalia, Mary Anne ^a   Burger, Henry ^b  

^a MONASH UNIVERSITY   (Australia)

^b HUDSON INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH   (Australia)

Author keywords

Androgens; Dysfunction; Evaluation; Female; Sexual

Indexed keywords

ANDROGEN; ANTIDEPRESSANT AGENT; CONJUGATED ESTROGEN; CORTICOSTEROID; ESTROGEN; FLUOXYMESTERONE; METHYLTESTOSTERONE; ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE AGENT; PRASTERONE; STANOZOLOL; TESTOSTERONE; TESTOSTERONE UNDECANOATE; TIBOLONE;

ACNE; ALOPECIA; ANDROGEN DEFICIENCY; ANDROGEN THERAPY; BREAST CANCER; CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE; CHOLESTATIC HEPATITIS; CLINICAL FEATURE; CLINICAL TRIAL; CLITORIS HYPERTROPHY; DEATH; DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY; ENDOMETRIUM HYPERPLASIA; EVALUATION; FEMALE; FEMALE SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION; GYNECOLOGIC DISEASE; HIRSUTISM; HUMAN; HYPERANDROGENISM; HYPERLIPOPROTEINEMIA; JAUNDICE; LARYNX DISORDER; LIBIDO DISORDER; LIVER CELL CARCINOMA; LIVER DYSFUNCTION; LIVER FAILURE; MALE TYPE ALOPECIA; REVIEW; SYMPTOMATOLOGY; TREATMENT INDICATION; VIRILIZATION;

ANDROGENS; DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE; FEMALE; HUMANS; LIBIDO; NORPREGNENES; SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION, PHYSIOLOGICAL; TESTOSTERONE;

EID: 33646682148     PISSN: 15268004     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-939567     Document Type: Review

References (75)

1. Laumann EO, Paik A, Rosen RC. Sexual dysfunction in the United States: prevalence and predictors. JAMA 1999;281:537-544
2. Basson R, Berman J, Burnett A, et al. Report of the international consensus development conference on female sexual dysfunction: definitions and classifications. J Urol 2000;163:888-893
3. Bachmann GA, Bancroft J, Braunstein G, et al. Female androgen insufficiency: The Princeton Consensus Statement on definition, classification and assessment. Fertil Steril 2002;77:660-665
4. [No authors listed]. Androgen insufficiency in women. Proceedings of the Princeton Conference. Princeton, New Jersey. July 29, 2001. Fertil Steril 2002;77(suppl 4):S1-99
5. Shifren JL, Braunstein G, Simon J, et al. Transdermal testosterone treatment in women with impaired sexual function after oophorectomy. N Engl J Med 2000;343:682-688
6. Braunstein G, Shifren J, Simon J, Lucas J, Rodenberg C, Watts NB. Testosterone patches for the treatment of low sexual desire in surgically menopausal women. Proceedings of the 14th Annual Meeting of the North American Menopause Society; September 17-20, 2003; Miami Beach, FL
7. Davis SR, McCloud PI, Strauss BJG, Burger HG. Testosterone enhances estradiol's effects on postmenopausal bone density and sexuality. Maturitas 1995;21:227-236
8. Lobo R, Rosen RC, Yang H-M, Block B, Van der Hoop R. Comparative effects of oral esterified estrogens with and without methyl testosterone on endocrine profiles and dimensions of sexual function in postmenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire. Fertil Steril 2003;79:1341-1352
9. Buster JE, Kingsberg SA, Aguirre O, et al. Testosterone patch for low sexual desire in surgically menopausal women: a randomized trial. Obstet Gynecol 2005;105:944-952
10. Miller K, Sesmilo G, Schiller A, Schonfeld D, Burton S, Klibanski A. Androgen deficiency in women with hypopituitarism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2001;86:561-567
11. Simon JA. Estrogen replacement therapy: effects on the endogenous androgen milieu. Fertil Steril 2002;77(suppl 4): S77-S82
12. Arlt W, Callies F, Van Vlijmen JC, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone replacement in women with adrenal insufficiency. N Engl J Med 1999;341:1013-1020
13. Lovas K, Gebre-Medhin G, Trovik T, et al. Replacement of dehydroepiandrosterone in adrenal failure: no benefit for subjective health status and sexuality in a 9-month randomized parallel group clinical trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2003;88:1112-1118
14. Laughlin G, Barrett-Connor E, Kritz-Silverstein D, Von Muhlen D. Hysterectomy, oophorectomy, and endogenous sex hormone levels in older women. The Rancho Bernado Study. J Clin Endocinol Metab 2000;85:645-651
15. Davison S, Bell R, Donath S, Montalto J, Davis S. Androgen levels in adult females: changes with age, menopause and oophorectomy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2005;90:3847-3853
16. Zumoff B, Strain GW, Miller LK, Rosner W. Twenty-four-hour mean plasma testosterone concentration declines with age in normal premenopausal women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1995;80:1429-1430
17. Burger HG, Dudley EC, Cui J, Dennerstein L, Hooper J. A prospective longitudinal study of serum testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and sex hormone-binding globulin levels through the menopause transition. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2000;85:2832-2838
18. Lasley B, Santoro N, Randolf J, et al. The relationship of circulating dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone and estradiol to stages of the menopausal transition and ethnicity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2002;87:3760-3767
19. Rannevik G, Jeppsson S, Johnell O. A longitudinal study of the perimenopausal transition: altered profiles of steroid and pituitary hormones, SHBG and bone mineral density. Maturitas 1986;8:189-196
20. Bancroft J, Cawood EHH. Androgens and the menopause: a study of 40-60 year old women. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 1996;45:577-587
21. Orentreich N, Brind JL, Rizer RL, Vogelman JH. Age changes and sex differences in serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentrations throughout adulthood. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1984;59:551-555
22. Nathorst-Boos J, von Schoultz H. Psychological reactions and sexual life after hysterectomy with and without oophorectomy. Gynecol Obstet Invest 1992;34:97-101
23. Dennerstein L, Smith A, Morse C, Burger H. Sexuality and the menopause. J Psychsom Obstet Gynecol 1994;15:59-66
24. Frock J, Money J. Sexuality and the menopause. Psychother Psychosom 1984;42:177-181
25. McCoy NL, Davidson JM. A longitudinal study of the effects of menopause on sexuality. Maturitas 1985;7:203-210
26. Appelt H, Strauss B. Effects of antiandrogen treatment on the sexuality of women with hyperandrogenism. Psychother Psychosom 1984;42:177-181
27. Bixo M, Backstrom T, Winblad B, Andersson A. Estradiol and testosterone in specific regions of the human female brain in different endocrine states. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 1995;55:297-303
28. Davis SR, Tran J. Testosterone influences libido and wellbeing. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2001;12:33-37
29. Davis S, Goldstat R, Papalia M, et al. Effects of aromatase inhibition on sexual function and wellbeing in postmenopausal women treated with testosterone: a randomized placebo controlled trial. Menopause 2005. In press
30. Davis SR, Davison SL, Donath S, Bell RJ. Circulating androgen levels and self-reported sexual function in women. JAMA 2005;294:91-96
31. Avis NZ, Zhao X, Johannes CB, Ory M, Brockwell S, Greendale GA. Correlates of sexual function among multiethnic middles-aged women: results from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN). Menopause 2005;12:385-398
32. Dennerstein L, Lehert P, Burger H. The Relative effects of hormones and relationship factors on sexual function of women through the natural menopausal transition. Fertil Steril 2005;84:174-180
33. Sodergard R, Backstrom T, Shanhag V, Carstensen H. Calculation of free and bound fractions of testosterone and estradiol-17 beta to human plasma proteins at body temperature. J Steroid Biochem 1982;16:801-810
34. Vermeulen A, Verdonck L, Kaufman M. A critical evaluation of simple methods for the estimation of free testosterone in serum. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1999;84:3666-3672
35. Davis S, Humborstone A, Milne R, Evans A. Measurement of serum total testosterone levels after administration of testosterone can underestimate the amount of testosterone that has been absorbed. Proceedings of 85th Annual Meeting of The Endocrine Society; June 19-22, 2003; Philadelphia, PA
36. Braunstein GD. Androgen insufficiency in women: summary of critical issues. Fertil Steril 2002;77(suppl 4):S94-S99
37. Somboonporn W. Testosterone therapy for postmenopausal women: efficacy and safety. Semin Reprod Med 2006;24:115-124
38. Goldstat R, Briganti E, Tran J, Wolfe R, Davis S. Transdermal testosterone improves mood, well being and sexual function in premenopausal women. Menopause 2003;10:390-398
39. Johannsson G, Burman P, Wiren L, et al. Low dose dehydroepiandrosterone affects behavior in hypopituitary androgen-deficient women: a placebo-controlled trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2002;87:2046-2052
40. Hunt P, Gurnell E, Huppert F. Improvement in mood and fatigue after dehydroepiandrosterone replacement in Addison's disease in a randomized, double blind trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2000;85:4650-4656
41. Davis SR, Burger H. Androgens and the postmenopausal woman. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1996;81:2759-2763
42. Davis SR, Walker KZ, Strauss BJ. Effects of estradiol with and without testosterone on body composition and relationships with lipids in post-menopausal women. Menopause 2000;7:395-401
43. Chlebowski R, Hendrix S, Langer R, Stefanick M, Gass M. Influence of estrogen plus progestin on breast cancer and mammography in healthy postmenopausal women. JAMA 2003;289:3243-3253
44. Rossouw JE, Anderson GL, Prentice RL, et al. Risks and benefits of estrogen plus progestin in healthy postmenopausal women: principal results From the Women's Health Initiative randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2002;288:321-333
45. Beral V, Million Women Study Collaborators. Breast cancer and hormone replacement therapy in the Million Women Study. Lancet 2003;362:419-427
46. Anderson GL, Limacher M, Assaf AR, et al. Effects of conjugated equine estrogen in postmenopausal women with hysterectomy: the Women's Health Initiative randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2004;291:1701-1712
47. Dimitrakakis C, Zhou J, Bondy CA. Androgens and mammary growth and neoplasia. Fertil Steril 2002;77: s26-s33
48. Anderson KE, Sellers TA, Chen PL, Rich SS, Hong CP, Folsom AR. Association of Stein-Leventhal syndrome with the incidence of postmenopausal breast carcinoma in a large prospective study of women in Iowa. Cancer 1997;79:494-499
49. Birrell SN, Bentel JM, Hickey TE, et al. Androgens induce divergent proliferative responses in human breast cancer cell lines. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 1995;52:459-467
50. Slayden SM. Risks of menopausal androgen supplementation. Semin Reprod Endocrinol 1998;16:145-152
51. Westaby D, Ogle SJ, Paradinas FJ, Randell JB, Murray-Lyon IM. Liver damage from long-term methyltestosterone. Lancet 1977;2:262-263
52. Murray-Lyon IM, Westaby D, Paradinas F. Hepatic complications of androgen therapy. Gastroenterology 1977;73:1461
53. Hickok LR, Toomey C, Speroff L. A comparison of esterified estrogens with and without methyltestosterone: Effects on endometrial histology and serum lipoproteins in postmenopausal women. Obstet Gynecol 1993;82:919-924
54. Futterweit W, Deligdisch L. Histopathological effects of exogenously administered testosterone in 19 female to male transsexuals. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1986;62:16-21
55. Buckler HM, McElhone K, Durrington PN, Mackness MI, Ludlam CA, Wu FCW. The effects of low-dose testosterone treatment on lipid metabolism, clotting factors and ultrasonographic ovarian morphology in women. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 1998;49:173-178
56. Urman B, Pride SM, Yuen HB. Elevated serum testosterone hirsutism and virilism associated with combined androgen-estrogen hormone replacement therapy. Obstet Gynecol 1991;77:595-598
57. Gerritsma EJ, Brocaar MP, Hakkesteegt MM, Birkenhager JC. Virilization of the voice in post-menopausal women due to the anabolic steroid nandrolone decanoate (Decadurabolin). The effects of medication for one year. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci 1994;19:79-84
58. Barrett-Connor E, Young R, Notelovitz M, et al. A two-year, double-blind comparison of estrogen-androgen and conjugated estrogens in surgically menopausal women. Effects on bone mineral density, symptoms and lipid profiles. J Reprod Med 1999;44:1012-1020
59. Phillips E, Bauman C. Safety surveillance of esterified estrogens-methyltestosterone (Estratest and Estratest HS) replacement therapy in the United States. Clin Ther 1997;19:1070-1084
60. Morales AJ, Nolan JJ, Nelson JC, Yen SSC. Effects of replacement dose of dehydroepiandrosterone in men and women of advancing age. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1994;78:1360-1367
61. Baulieu E, Thomas G, Legrain S, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate, and aging: contribution of the DHEAge Study to a sociobiomedical issue. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2000;97:4279-4284
62. Moore R. Livial: a review of clinical studies. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 2001;106(suppl 19):1-21
63. Morris E, Wilson P, Robinson J, Rymer J. Long term effects of tibolone on the genital tract in postmenopausal women. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1999;106:954-959
64. Botsis D, Kassanos D, Kalogirou D, Antoniou G, Vitoratos N, Karakitsos P. Vaginal ultrasound of the endometrium in postmenopausal women with symptoms of urogenital atrophy on low dose oestrogen or tibolone treatment: a comparison. Maturitas 1997;26:57-62
65. Egarter C, Huber J, Leikermoser R, et al. Tibolone versus conjugated estrogens and sequential progestogen in the treatment of climacteric complaints. Maturitas 1996;23:55-62
66. Gambacciani M, Ciaponi M, Cappagli B, et al. A longitudinal evaluation of the effect of two doses of tibolone on bone density and metabolism in early postmenopausal women. Gynecol Endocrinol 2004;18:9-16
67. Winkler U, Altkemper R, Kwee B, Helmond F, Coelingh Bennink H. Effects of tibolone and continuous combined hormone replacement therapy on parameters in the clotting cascades: a multicenter, double blind randomized study. Fertil Steril 2000;74:10-19
68. Gompel A, Siromachkova M, Lombat A, et al. Tibolone on normal and breast cancer cells. Eur J Cancer 2000;36(suppl 4):76-77
69. Hammar M, Christau S, Nathorst-Boos J, Rud T, Garre K. A double blind randomised trial comparing the effects of tibolone and continuous combined hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women with menopausal symptoms. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1998;105:904-911
70. Valdivia I, Ortega D. Mammographic density in postmenopausal women treated with tibolone, estriol or conventional hormone replacement therapy. Clin Drug Invest 2000;20:101-107
71. Shapiro S. The Million Women Study: potential biases do not allow uncritical acceptance of the data. Climacteric 2004;7:3-7
72. Castelo-Branco C, Vicente J, Figueras F, et al. Comparative effects of estrogens plus androgens and tibolone on bone, lipid pattern and sexuality in postmenopausal women. Maturitas 2000;34:161-168
73. Doren M, Rubig A, Coelingh Bennink H, Holzgreve W. Differential effects of the androgen status of postmenopausal women treated with tibolone and continuous combined estradiol and norethindrone acetate replacement therapy. Fertil Steril 2001;75:554-559
74. Rossouw J, Anderson G, Prentice R, et al. Risks and benefits of estrogen plus progestin in healthy postmenopausal women: principal results from the Women's Health Initiative randomised controlled trial. JAMA 2002;288:321-333
75. Grady D, Herrington D, Bittner V, Blumenthal RS. Cardiovascular disease outcomes during 6.8 years of hormone therapy: Heart and Estrogen-progestin Replacement Study follow up (HERS-II). JAMA 2002;288:49-57