28 February 2022
Summary
Cipriani et al. [1] published the results of an observational - retrospective analysis that aimed at exploring the effects of testosterone treatment over clitoral color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) parameters in pre- and postmenopausal women with sexual dysfunction (n=81) after 6 months. For this, authors analyzed four groups of women: those that had received transdermal 2% testosterone alone (n=23, T), combined with vaginal estrogens (n=9, T+E), local vaginal estrogen (n=12, E), or vaginal moisturizers (n=37, M). Women underwent physical, laboratory, and genital CDU examinations at both visits (baseline and after 6 months) and completed different validated questionnaires, including the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). The main finding was that there was a significant increase in the clitoral artery’s blood flow. After six months, T therapy significantly increased clitoral artery peak systolic velocity (PSV) when compared to both M and E groups. In addition, as compared to baseline, T treatment was related with significantly higher FSFI scores (total and desire, pain, arousal, lubrication, orgasm domain scores) at 6 months. Similar findings were observed in the T + E group. No significant differences in the variations of total and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glycemia, insulin and glycated hemoglobin levels were found among the four groups and no adverse events were observed. The authors concluded that in women with sexual dysfunction, systemic T administration, either alone or combined with local estrogens, was associated with a positive effect on clitoral blood flow and a clinical improvement in sexual function, showing a good safety profile.
