British researchers will test the effectiveness of their patch, which would increase testosterone levels and sexual desire in postmenopausal women.
- In general, menopause occurs around the age of 50. During this period, hormonal deficiency can cause low libido.
- British scientists have developed a patch of testosterone, a hormone that decreases in postmenopausal women, to boost sexual desire.
- It will be tested in a clinical trial next fall.
It is a natural phenomenon. Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. When it occurs, the periods stop definitively, because the ovaries stop their hormonal secretion (estrogens and progesterone) and the formation of an ovum each month. This period of a woman’s life can be accompanied by several symptoms, such as hot flashes, fatigue, insomnia or even irritability. “Hormonal deficiency during menopause causes vaginal dryness responsible for sexual disorders such as pain during intercourse and decreased libido”, according health insurance.
Testosterone production decreases in postmenopausal women
However, scientists from the University of Warwick (England) have undoubtedly found a way to combat this decrease in sexual desire. For the first time, they developed a testosterone patch. Hormone production, which is essential for women, declines during and after menopause. “Since 2015, recommendations published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) advise the use of testosterone supplementation in the event of low sexual desire during menopause, if hormone replacement therapy alone is not effective. However, there are currently no testosterone products specifically approved for women”, explained the scientists in a statement.
Libido: a first testosterone patch tested in the fall
To find out if this testosterone patch is really effective in boosting the libido of postmenopausal women, the British team will test it in a clinical trial, which will begin in the fall of 2023. “This is a very exciting development for us – the potential for this patch to improve women’s lives is enormous. The work we are doing is not just theoretical, it is aimed at solving a problem that women are facing. and that can have a huge impact on their daily life and work. This project could result in a product that is needed and that is simply not available”, said David Hiddleton, professor of chemistry at the University of Warwick.
