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Taken from WWW.pubmed.gov (testosterone studies)
Maturitas. 2007 Mar 17; [Epub ahead of print]
Androgens and female sexual function
Palacios S.
Palacios Institute of Woman's Health, Madrid, Spain.
OBJECTIVES: There is evidence that suggests that androgen might play an important role in different
tissues and in modulating sexual response. In women of reproductive age the most important source
of androgens present in the blood is the ovary. Androgens complement the contribution of adrenal
precursors, which in peripheral organs and target tissue can be transformed into bioactive androgens.
The human brain is an important target organ of the sex hormones. The expression in the brain of men
and women of estrogenic and/or androgenic receptors (AR) in the cerebral nucleus, especially the
hypothalamus, whose important participation in the regulation of the secretion of gonadotrophins,
sexual motivation and sexual response is well documented by experimental research on animals and is
being verified by studies on functional neuroimaging in humans.
METHODS AND RESULTS: The two pivotal studies that have served for acceptance of the testosterone
patch as therapy for hypoactive sexual desire by the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal
Products (EMEA) have been The Intimate Study (SM1) and The Intimate Study (SM2). The data on the
efficiency of these studies have therefore been clear and positive; the side effects have also been
studied and were found in general to be the same as those of the placebo group.
CONCLUSION: There are certain limitations in the studies that are currently being evaluated.
Studies with androgens alone and androgens plus estrogens in the natural menopause are ongoing
at present.
PMID: 17368976 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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