Effects of transdermal testosterone or oral dydrogesterone on hypoactive sexual desire disorder in transsexual women: results of a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
It has been reported that hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) affects one-third of transsexual women (defined as postoperative male-to-female transsexuals) receiving estrogen replacement whose bioavailable androgen levels are lower than in ovulating women and comparable with those in surgically postmenopausal women. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of transdermal testosterone treatment and of oral dydrogesterone in transsexual women with HSDD receiving estrogens.


METHODS
Seven transsexual women with HSDD were treated with a testosterone patch and nine transsexual women with HSDD were treated with oral dydrogesterone over 24 weeks. The primary end point was the change in the brief profile of female sexual function (B-PFSF) score. Secondary end points were changes in hormonal parameters and side effect assessments.


RESULTS
A significant increase in total testosterone and free testosterone levels was observed in the group receiving transdermal testosterone. At 24 weeks, there was a significant improvement in the B-PFSF score showing an improvement in sexual desire among transsexual women treated with the testosterone patch, whereas no change in the B-PFSF score was observed in transsexual women treated with oral dydrogesterone. No side effects were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
In this pilot study, sexual desire in transsexual women improved significantly after treatment with the testosterone patch, without noticeable side effects.
Kronawitter
Desiree
D
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erlangen University Hospital, Universitätsstrasse 21-23, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany.
Gooren
Louis J
LJ
Zollver
Hendryk
H
Oppelt
Patricia G
PG
Beckmann
Matthias W
MW
Dittrich
Ralf
R
Mueller
Andreas
A
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D004394:Dydrogesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011372:Progestins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014189:Transsexualism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*
D011372:Progestins; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D004394:Dydrogesterone