The effects of postmenopausal hormone therapies on female sexual functioning: a review of double-blind, randomized controlled trials

In Brief Double-blind randomized controlled trials of estrogen and/or testosterone on sexual function among natural or surgical menopause in women are reviewed. Power, validity, hormone levels, and methodological issues were examined. Certain types of estrogen therapy were associated with increased frequency of sexual activity, enjoyment, desire, arousal, fantasies, satisfaction, vaginal lubrication, and feeling physically attractive, and reduced dyspareunia, vaginal dryness, and sexual problems. Certain types of testosterone therapy (combined with estrogen) were associated with higher frequency of sexual activity, satisfaction with that frequency of sexual activity, interest, enjoyment, desire, thoughts and fantasies, arousal, responsiveness, and pleasure. Whether specific serum hormone levels are related to sexual functioning and how these group effects apply to individual women are unclear. Other unknowns include long-term safety, optimal types, doses and routes of therapy, which women will be more likely to benefit from (or be put at risk), and the precise interplay between the two sex hormones. Through a review of the randomized controlled trials on the effects of hormone therapies on female sexual function, it appears that certain types of estrogen and/or testosterone therapies are associated with improvements in various aspects of female sexual function. Many unknowns remain, such as optimal types, doses, and routes of administration, and which women are more likely to experience the benefit.