Effects of aromatase inhibition on sexual function and well-being in postmenopausal women treated with testosterone: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Content Provider	Semantic Scholar
Author	Davis, Susan R. Goldstat, Rebecca Papalia, Mary-Anne Shah, Sonal Kulkarni, Jayashri Donath, Susan Bell, Robin J.
Copyright Year	2006
Abstract	Objective:The extent to which aromatization of testosterone (T) to estradiol is required for the observed effects of testosterone therapy on sexual function and well-being are not known. Therefore, the authors investigated the effects of aromatase enzyme inhibition on sexual function, well-being, and mood in estrogen- and T-replete postmenopausal women in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Design:Postmenopausal women using transdermal estrogen therapy for at least 8 weeks and reporting low sexual satisfaction (score <42 for the Sabbatsberg Sexual Self-rating Scale [SSS]) with a total T value of less than 1.2 nmol/L were treated with 400 μL of a 0.5% T gel (total dose 2 mg) and were randomly assigned to receive treatment with either 2.5 mg/day of letrozole or an identical placebo tablet. Women were assessed at baseline (week −2) and at 0, 4, 8, and 16 weeks. Sexual function was assessed with the SSS, well-being was assessed with the Psychological General Well-being Index, and mood was assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory at 0 and 16 weeks. Eighty-one women were screened, 76 were randomly assigned to a treatment group, and 30 in each group completed the study. Because this was a mechanistic study, only the 60 women who completed the study per protocol were included in the final analysis. Results:Total T and calculated free T increased from baseline in both groups, with no difference between groups. At 16 weeks, estradiol, sex hormone-binding globulin, fasting lipids, lipoprotein(a), and C-reactive protein did not differ from baseline or between groups. Significant increases in total Sabbatsberg Sexual Self-rating Scale scores, total Psychological General Well-being Index scores, and a reduction in Beck Depression Inventory scores from baseline to 16 weeks was seen for both treatment groups, with no effect of treatment allocation. No adverse treatment effects were reported. Conclusions:Increases in total and free T in the physiologic range in postmenopausal women were associated with improved sexual satisfaction, well-being, and mood. In this study, aromatase inhibition did not influence any of these outcomes. Short-term transdermal T therapy did not modify fasting lipids, lipoprotein(a), or C-reactive protein.
Starting Page	37
Ending Page	45
Page Count	9
File Format	PDF HTM / HTML
DOI	10.1097/01.gme.0000168061.32917.83
PubMed reference number	16607097
Journal	Medline
Volume Number	13
Alternate Webpage(s)	http://www.hormonebalance.org/images/documents/Davis%2006%202%20mg%20TD%20test%20with%20AI%20no%20change%20lipid%20Men.pdf
Alternate Webpage(s)	https://doi.org/10.1097/01.gme.0000168061.32917.83
Journal	Menopause
Language	English
Access Restriction	Open
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article