The effect of ultralow-dose transdermal estradiol on sexual function in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to examine the effect of ultralow-dose transdermal estradiol on sexual function in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
Analysis of data from a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a 0.014 mg/day transdermal estradiol patch in 417 women aged 60 to 80 years. Sexual function was assessed by self-administered questionnaires at baseline and 4, 12, and 24 months. A linear effects model was used to assess treatment effects using data from all on-study assessments.


RESULTS
Women randomly assigned to estradiol had a 4.3 point greater improvement in the vaginal pain/dryness domain relative to placebo (95% CI = 0.3-8.4, P = .04). No significant differences in frequency of sexual activity or other sexual function domains (desire, satisfaction, problems, or orgasm) were observed between treatment groups (P > or = .10 for all).


CONCLUSIONS
Ultralow-dose estradiol resulted in modest improvement in sexual function related to vaginal pain and dryness, but not in other domains of sexual function.
Huang
Alison
A
Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA. ahuang@ucsfmed.org
Yaffe
Kristine
K
Vittinghoff
Eric
E
Kuppermann
Miriam
M
Addis
Ilana
I
Hanes
Vladimir
V
Quan
Judy
J
Grady
Deborah
D
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D019529:Sexuality / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*
D004967:Estrogens; D004958:Estradiol