Menopausal women who lose their libido could soon be given testosterone patches to boost sexual desire.
Research shows that wearing patches infused with the male sex hormone can help women to increase their sex drive, and the product could be on the market soon.
Dr David Purdie and his team from the
John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford compared the effects of the patches with a placebo, dummy patch on 77 menopausal women with low sex drive.
They found the women using the patches experienced statistically significant increases in sexual desire after six months.
If women have a natural menopause at around 50, they continue to secrete the sex hormone testosterone even when the levels of the female hormone oestrogen fall, meaning that sexual desire remains.
However, women who have a hysterectomy in which their ovaries are removed have their supplies of testosterone as well as oestrogen cut off.
This can leave them with no sexual desire at all and can cause a condition called Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder.
Dr Margaret Rees, a consultant medical gynaecologist at the John Radcliffe Hospital team, welcomed the patches.
She said: "This is a new development with the potential to help a lot of women.
It is known that increasing testosterone levels can improve a woman's libido, moods and well-being.
"Using the patches, women can start and stop them whenever they want to."
Four out of 10 women suffered from loss of libido as they went through the menopause.
Dr Rees added: "Sexual dysfunction is a very common problem in women and is more prevalent than in men.
"Some women accept it; they feel there is more to life than sex.
"However, other women want to improve their sexual desire and these patches will enable us to respond to them when they seek help."
- INDEPENDENT
Herald Feature: Health
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