Recognizing the problems of premature ovarian failure

Abstract

in testosterone-treated women compared with those who received placebo. Furthermore, personal distress significantly decreased in women receiving testosterone compared with both baseline and placebo-treated women. Potential risks of androgen therapy include hirsutism, acne, irreversible deepening of the voice and adverse changes in liver function and lipids. Virilization of a female fetus would be a potential risk of androgen administration to women of reproductive age. Sideeffects would be more likely with supraphysiological dosing of androgen therapy. As most androgens are aromatized to estrogens, the risks of estrogen therapy are also possible with androgen treatment, including an increased risk of thromboembolic events and breast cancer. The safety and tolerability of transdermal testosterone has been assessed up to 36 months. Testosterone patches were well tolerated, with a favourable adverse-event profile. Limited data are available on the risks associated with long-term androgen use, and few studies have been performed in women not receiving concurrent estrogen therapy.