Testogel Application in the Menopause: Making a Difference to the Lives of Women

AIMS: Benefit has been shown from testosterone therapy given to postmenopausal women experiencing reduced sexual desire. Specifically, an increased frequency of satisfying sexual encounters and intensity of sexual desire and better sexual response has been shown with testosterone therapy in a number of studies spanning more than 35 years. Androgen therapy has been related to improvement in energy, mood, well-being, self-perception, and some parameters of sexuality (libido, activity, sexual arousal, excitability and satisfaction. METHODS: In a group of 10 menopausal women applying Testogel 16.2mg/g at the dose of 20.25 mg every 3-4 days as part of their usual care together with oestrogen +/- progestogen HRT, we measured serum testosterone and free androgen index (FAI) pre-application of Testogel and 24 hours after its application. Testosterone was measured by mass spectrometry. The Female Sexual functioning Index (FSFI) was completed by the women. RESULTS: The range of duration of treatment with testosterone was 6 months-23 years. All women subjectively reported an improvement in sexual function with testosterone administered most recently as Testogel. Female Sexual functioning Index (FSFI) median score was 24.5/36 (25-75% interquartile range 18-28) with highest domain scores for sexual satisfaction and arousal (4.2/6) and moderate scores for orgasm and desire (3.6/6) with lowest domain score for lubrication (2.4/6) and no reported issues re pain on intercourse, All women subjectively reported an improvement in sexual function with testosterone supplementation. Mean pre-Testogel administration testosterone level (corresponding to a trough level) was 0.85: 0.6-1.2 nmol/L (median: 25-75% interquartile range) rising at 24 hours post Testogel to 3.6: 1.9-4.8 nmol/L (median: 25-75% interquartile range) (Reference range for testosterone is women is up to1.4 nmol/L). The rise in serum testosterone was not associated with any untoward effects in terms of hirsutism/acne. CONCLUSION: All the women in our case series experienced benefit with testosterone gel in terms of sexual function. FSFI score indicated reasonable sexual function in this group of women treated with Testogel for HSDD. The increase in serum testosterone level and FAI at 24 hours after application of Testogel was not associated with untoward reported / manifest consequences. Testosterone supplementation is not approved for treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in the UK / other parts of Europe. This matter needs to be addressed as a priority by all stakeholders so that this medication can be made more freely available.