Testosterone for Female Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder

Approximately 49 million women in the US suffer from some form of Female Sexual Disorder (FSD). Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) is characterized as a lack or absence of sexual fantasies and desires for sexual activity for some period of time causing marked distress or interpersonal difficulties. At least 16 million women over the age of 50 currently experience low sexual desire with approximately four million suffering from HSDD.

Testosterone is associated with sexual desire and activity. Testosterone levels deeply decline in women as they age and after surgical menopause. Endogenous testosterone levels in women at age 40 are one-half of those of women at age 21. Endogenous levels in women after surgical removal of the ovaries (oophorectomy) are 50% less than before oophorectomy. There is a strong indication that supplemental testosterone therapy may be beneficial for the treatment of HSDD in menopausal and premenopausal women.

Currently, there is no approved product for HSDD. A large number of testosterone prescriptions were written for FSD in 2009. Physicians must titrate the testosterone dose for women because women need significantly lower amounts of testosterone than are included in the marketed products designed for males. Eighty percent of physicians believe there is a need for an FDA approved treatment for HSDD and 90% would prescribe an approved product rather than off-label.