Androgens and Female Sexual Function and Dysfunction—Findings From the Fourth International Consultation of Sexual Medicine
February 2016
in “
The Journal of Sexual Medicine
”
TLDR Androgens play a role in female sexual function, and testosterone therapy can help women with low sexual desire, but more research is needed on treatments and long-term safety.
The 2016 document reviews the role of androgens in female sexual function and the use of androgen therapy, particularly testosterone (T) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), for treating female sexual dysfunction (FSD). It concludes that androgens are important for female sexual function, but there is no specific androgen level to diagnose androgen deficiency. Transdermal T therapy has been shown to improve sexual function in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), with the largest trial including 814 women. However, there are no approved T formulations for women, and long-term safety data are lacking. Studies on systemic DHEA do not support its use for FSD in women with normal adrenal function, while vaginal DHEA requires further research. The document emphasizes the need for more studies, particularly for conditions like premature ovarian failure/insufficiency (POF/POI), and the development of approved androgen formulations for women.
