Postmenopausal Sex Life May Get a Patch-Up

Women who entered menopause after surgical removal of their ovaries may benefit sexually from testosterone patches, researchers say.

Citing a medical study of more than 70 women in their late 40s, researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center told a meeting of The Endocrine Society that on higher doses of testosterone, the women's report of orgasm and sexual pleasure improved significantly.

The testosterone patch is still in the development stages, and has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. In fact, in 2005, the FDA unanimously recommended against approval of the patch, calling for more long-term safety studies and the completion of ongoing trials of the patch in naturally menopausal women.

But the study author, Dr. Glenn Braunstein, says the women tested also reported an increase in sexual activity when receiving higher doses of the hormone.

Braunstein told the conference that "small amounts of testosterone normally produced by a woman's ovaries are important for maintaining sexual function and that loss of ovarian testosterone production can markedly diminish the quality of life for some women."

As for whether or not the patch will prove to be women’s answer to Viagra, only time will tell.