title: Effect of intravaginal dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on the female sexual function in postmenopausal women: ERC-230 open-label study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Intravaginal DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone, prasterone), the exclusive precursor of androgens and estrogens in postmenopausal women, has previously been shown to improve all the domains of sexual function by a strictly local action in the vagina. The well recognized female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaire was used in the present study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The long-term effect of 52-week treatment with daily intravaginal 0.50% (6.5 mg) DHEA was evaluated on the various domains of female sexual function using the FSFI questionnaire at baseline, Week 26 and Week 52.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fifty-four postmenopausal women with at least one mild to severe symptom of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) and who have completed the FSFI questionnaire at baseline and at least one post-baseline timepoint were included in the analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FSFI domains desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain were increased by 28%, 49%, 115%, 51%, 41% and 108%, respectively (p<0.0001 for all parameters) at 52 weeks vs. baseline, while the total score was increased from 13.4±0.62 at baseline to 21.5±0.82 (+60%, p<0.0001) at 52 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As the serum levels of DHEA and all its metabolites, including estradiol and testosterone, show no meaningful change, the present clinical data indicate a stimulatory effect of intravaginal DHEA through a strictly local action in agreement with the preclinical data showing that the androgens made locally from DHEA in the vagina induce an increase in local nerve density.
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bouchard
authors.forename: Fernand
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Labrie
authors.forename: Leonard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Derogatis
authors.forename: Ginette
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Girard
authors.forename: Normand
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ayotte
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: Leonello
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cusan
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Archer
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Portman
authors.forename: Lyne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lavoie
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beauregard
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Côté
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martel
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaillancourt
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Balser
authors.forename: Erick
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moyneur
mesh_terms: D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009948:Orgasm / Q000187:drug effects; D015990:Placebo Effect; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone