Kath Whitton (Obstetrician, Gynaecologist, Fertility Specialist) , Rodney Baber (Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology)
{"title":"Androgen-based therapies in women","authors":"Kath Whitton (Obstetrician, Gynaecologist, Fertility Specialist) , Rodney Baber (Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology)","doi":"10.1016/j.beem.2023.101783","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><span>Androgens play a key biological role in libido<span><span> and sexual arousal in women, and knowledge about their complex role in other systems remains ambiguous and incomplete. This narrative review examines the role of endogenous androgens in women’s health throughout the life span before focusing on evidence surrounding the use of androgen-based therapies to treat postmenopausal women. The role of testosterone as a therapeutic agent in women continues to attract controversy as approved preparations are rare, and use of off-label and compounded formulations is widespread. Despite this </span>androgen therapy<span> has been used for decades in oral, injectable, and transdermal formulations. Responses to androgen therapy have been demonstrated to improve aspects of female sexual dysfunction, notably hypoactive sexual desire disorder, in a dose related manner. Substantial research has also been conducted into the role of androgens in treating aspects of the genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). Evidence for benefits beyond these is mixed and more research is required regarding long-term safety. However, It remains biologically plausible that androgens will be effective in treating hypoestrogenic symptoms related to menopause, either through direct physiological effects or following </span></span></span>aromatization to estradiol throughout the body.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8810,"journal":{"name":"Best practice & research. Clinical endocrinology & metabolism","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Best practice & research. Clinical endocrinology & metabolism","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1521690X2300057X","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Androgens play a key biological role in libido and sexual arousal in women, and knowledge about their complex role in other systems remains ambiguous and incomplete. This narrative review examines the role of endogenous androgens in women’s health throughout the life span before focusing on evidence surrounding the use of androgen-based therapies to treat postmenopausal women. The role of testosterone as a therapeutic agent in women continues to attract controversy as approved preparations are rare, and use of off-label and compounded formulations is widespread. Despite this androgen therapy has been used for decades in oral, injectable, and transdermal formulations. Responses to androgen therapy have been demonstrated to improve aspects of female sexual dysfunction, notably hypoactive sexual desire disorder, in a dose related manner. Substantial research has also been conducted into the role of androgens in treating aspects of the genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). Evidence for benefits beyond these is mixed and more research is required regarding long-term safety. However, It remains biologically plausible that androgens will be effective in treating hypoestrogenic symptoms related to menopause, either through direct physiological effects or following aromatization to estradiol throughout the body.
期刊介绍:
Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism is a serial publication that integrates the latest original research findings into evidence-based review articles. These articles aim to address key clinical issues related to diagnosis, treatment, and patient management.
Each issue adopts a problem-oriented approach, focusing on key questions and clearly outlining what is known while identifying areas for future research. Practical management strategies are described to facilitate application to individual patients. The series targets physicians in practice or training.