The much talked about testosterone cream for enhancing sexual desire in female cancer survivors did not prove very effective, a new study conducted by Mayo clinic has shown.
A low sex drive is common in women cancer survivors. As an extension to a previous study which pointed a link between androgen therapy and increased sex drive in women with sufficient estrogen levels, this new study was conducted on 150 post menopausal cancer survivors.The women were divided into two groups. One group got a testosterone cream and the other received a placebo for four weeks. For the ensuing four weeks, treatment was interchanged between the groups.
The groups had to answer a questionnaire in the beginning of the program and subsequently at four and eight weeks regarding their desire for sex. The finding revealed, there was no difference in libido between the two groups. Instead both groups showed a marginal increase in libido, portraying a placebo effect, rather than the effect of the testosterone cream.
Explaining that the ineffectiveness of the testosterone cream could be attributed to low estrogen levels among the women who took part in the study, researchers said, "If providing supplemental estrogen to women who are postmenopausal is required to obtain a benefit from androgen therapy, then it does not appear that androgen supplementation would be a viable option for women who must avoid (estrogen) replacement."
Source-Medindia
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