title: Androgen replacement therapy with dehydroepiandrosterone for androgen insufficiency and female sexual dysfunction: androgen and questionnaire results.
abstract: During our evaluations of women with sexual dysfunction, we have seen many with low interest, arousal, and orgasmic capabilities with associated personal distress and diminished genital sensation and blood flow following sexual stimulation. Laboratory evaluation of these women has revealed normal estrogen but androgen values that were either below or in the lower quartile of the physiologic range. Androgen insufficiency and sexual dysfunction have been the working diagnoses in these women. Although many treatment options currently are available for this syndrome, there are limited data concerning safety and efficacy. The aim of this retrospective, Institutional Review Board (IRB)--approved, single-institution study was to report on the androgen and questionnaire results from a series of patients who underwent androgen replacement therapy with dehydroepiandrosterone for treatment of androgen insufficiency and sexual dysfunction. This study revealed that there was a significant decrease in sexual distress, a significant increase in sexual function in the domains of desire, arousal, lubrication, satisfaction, and orgasm, and a normalization to values within the physiologic range in the following androgens measured: total testosterone, free or bioavAilable testosterone, DHEA, DHEA-S, and androstenedione. Side effects included increased facial hair (11%), weight gain (7%), acne (5%), temporary breast tenderness (1%), loss of head hair (1%) and skin rash (1%). Preliminary results suggest that androgen replacement therapy with dehydroepiandrosterone is a safe and effective treatment for androgen insufficiency and female sexual dysfunction. However, further research is needed, including prospective, multi-institution, placebo-controlled double-blind studies.
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Munarriz
authors.forename: Lily
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Talakoub
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Flaherty
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gioia
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hoag
authors.forename: Noel N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Abdulmaged
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Traish
authors.forename: Irwin
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guay
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Spark
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000728:Androgens; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone