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REPLY

Effect of Testosterone Therapy versus Other Factors on the Self-reported Sexual Satisfaction of Premenopausal Women

right arrow Susan R. Davis, MBBS, MD, PhD; Bronwyn G.A. Stuckey, MD; John Wlodarczyk, PhD; Andrew Humberstone, PhD; and Robert J. Norman, MD

2 September 2008 | Volume 149 Issue 5 | Pages 361-362


IN RESPONSE:

We wish to address the comments regarding our article on the effects of transdermal testosterone for premenopausal women. As described in the online Appendix, the discrepancy between screening testosterone at baseline and the data presented is due to the former being measured by using a free testosterone kit assay to achieve quick turnaround at the time of recruitment and the latter being measured by using a validated sensitive assay (Esoterix, Calabasas Hills, California). The primary reason for setting a screening blood testosterone level was to minimize the likelihood of androgenization by excluding women with high testosterone levels. We agree that there is no level of testosterone that correlates with low self-reported sexual well-being (1). The maximum benefit seemed to be in the women receiving a single 90-µL dose per day; however, when we looked at all data across the study rather than just those in the final month, the signal was much stronger and results were statistically significant for both the single 90-µL dose per day and the double 90-µL dose per day. We agree that sexual function is extremely complex; however, to undertake a study that takes into account all the major influences on sexual well-being and satisfaction would be very ambitious. That we demonstrated an effect of testosterone therapy, albeit modest, over and above the inherent background "noise" in this study indicates that testosterone independently influences female sexual function.


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From Monash University, Prahran, Victoria 3181; Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia 6009; John Wlodarczyk Consultancy Services, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales 2305; Nucleus Network, Melbourne, Victoria 3004; and University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia.

Potential Financial Conflicts of Interest: None disclosed.


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1. Davis SR, Davison SL, Donath S, Bell RJ. Circulating androgen levels and self-reported sexual function in women. JAMA. 2005;294:91-6. [PMID: 15998895].[Abstract/Free Full Text]


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Safety and Efficacy of a Testosterone Metered-Dose Transdermal Spray for Treating Decreased Sexual Satisfaction in Premenopausal Women: A Randomized Trial
Susan Davis, Mary-Anne Papalia, Robert J. Norman, Sheila O'Neill, Margaret Redelman, Margaret Williamson, Bronwyn G.A. Stuckey, John Wlodarczyk, Karen Gard'ner, AND Andrew Humberstone
Annals 2008 148: 569-577. [ABSTRACT][Full Text]  

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Effect of Testosterone Therapy versus Other Factors on the Self-reported Sexual Satisfaction of Premenopausal Women
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Effect of Testosterone Therapy versus Other Factors on the Self-reported Sexual Satisfaction of Premenopausal Women
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