Benefits and risks of testosterone treatment for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in women: a critical review of studies published in the decades preceding and succeeding the advent of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors.
With advancing age, there is an increase in the complaints of a lack of a libido in women and erectile dysfunction in men. The efficacy of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, together with their minimal side effects and ease of administration, revolutionized the treatment of erectile dysfunction. For women, testosterone administration is the principal treatment for hypoactive sexual desire disorder. We sought to evaluate the use of androgens in the treatment of a lack of libido in women, comparing two periods, i.e., before and after the advent of the phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. We also analyzed the risks and benefits of androgen administration. We searched the Latin-American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, Cochrane Library, Excerpta Medica, Scientific Electronic Library Online, and Medline (PubMed) databases using the search terms disfunção sexual feminina/female sexual dysfunction, desejo sexual hipoativo/female hypoactive sexual desire disorder, testosterona/testosterone, terapia androgênica em mulheres/androgen therapy in women, and sexualidade/sexuality as well as combinations thereof. We selected articles written in English, Portuguese, or Spanish. After the advent of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, there was a significant increase in the number of studies aimed at evaluating the use of testosterone in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder. However, the risks and benefits of testosterone administration have yet to be clarified.
Department of Pathophysiology, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Sandra Léa Bonfim
SL
Reis
Department of Psychiatry, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Carmita H N
CH
Abdo
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000728:Androgens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000728:Androgens; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors; D013739:Testosterone