Testosterone for the Treatment of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women.

Abstract

Although there is no androgen deficiency diagnosis for women, research demonstrates that testosterone treatment can be modestly beneficial in treating appropriately selected postmenopausal women with distressing low desire, also known as hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). Current data do not support the role of testosterone treatment in supporting bone health or brain health or improving energy or cognition in women, and only limited research supports its benefit for HSDD treatment in women of late reproductive age. No current U.S. Federal Drug Administration-approved formulation of testosterone is available for women in the United States because of a lack of long-term safety data. However, two clinical guidelines now provide expert guidance on testosterone treatment and monitoring in women for HSDD. This narrative review presents the data and summarizes the guidelines in a clinically relevant format to make the information accessible to clinicians treating cisgender women with HSDD seeking testosterone treatment.