Female sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women: systematic review of placebo-controlled trials.
OBJECTIVE
This systematic review includes all randomized and placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) of treatment for female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in postmenopausal women published since 1990.


METHODS
Electronic database and manual bibliography searches were conducted to identify all relevant publications.


RESULTS
Only six RCTs have been done to assess the effects of different therapies on sexual function in postmenopausal women: one with sildenafil citrate (Viagra), three with hormone replacement therapy, and two with tibolone.


CONCLUSIONS
In women with FSD, many treatments that are used in practice are not supported by adequate evidence. Although an improvement of sexual function was reported with tibolone and the combination of estrogen-androgen therapy, it still remains unclear which groups of postmenopausal women with FSD would benefit most from these therapies. The adverse effects of testosterone replacement therapy should be assessed against the effects of placebo in RCTs with larger sample sizes and longer duration.
Modelska
Katharina
K
Prevention Sciences Group, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA. kmodelska@psg.ucsf.edu
Cummings
Steven
S
D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016239:MEDLINE; D008875:Middle Aged; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010919:Placebos; D017698:Postmenopause; D011687:Purines; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000628:therapy*; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones
D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens; D009652:Norpregnenes; D010879:Piperazines; D010919:Placebos; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; C027385:tibolone