- With Mayo Clinic internist
Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
Dr. Sandhya Pruthi, certified by the American Board of Family Practice, has been practicing medicine at Mayo Clinic since 1995 with special interests in breast diseases and women's health.
She is a consultant in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, and the Breast Diagnostic Clinic. She is an assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minn.
The Winnipeg, Manitoba, native stresses education and patient-related research and has been active in both areas since joining Mayo Clinic. She is the primary investigator at Mayo Clinic of several clinical trials evaluating new agents for the prevention of breast cancer and identification of biomarkers for early detection of breast cancer. Her other research and clinical interests include managing the health of women who are at increased risk of breast cancer, breast pain and hot flashes, and developing patient education decision-making tools for breast-related concerns. She is director of the Breast Diagnostic Clinic and is a member of the Women's Health Executive Committee. Dr. Pruthi has been newly elected as a member to the board of directors for the American Society of Breast Disease. She has assisted with a variety of articles for MayoClinic.com.
"Having an opportunity to share information with my patients in the way that will help them to understand and be able to make educated decisions about their own health is very important to me," she says.
"The Web has become a major information site for people, and I want them to get the best and accurate information to be able to make informed choices for themselves, their family members and friends."
Symptoms (1)
- Bleeding after menopause: Is it normal?
Treatments and drugs (3)
- Bioidentical hormones: Are they safer?
- Hormone replacement therapy: Can it cause vaginal bleeding?
- Testosterone therapy in women: Does it boost sex drive?
Alternative medicine (1)
- Flaxseed: Can it relieve hot flashes?
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Question
Testosterone therapy in women: Does it boost sex drive?
Does testosterone therapy help increase sex drive in menopausal women? When should this be considered? What are the pros and cons?
Answer
from Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
There's no consensus among doctors about the benefits and risks of testosterone therapy for menopausal women.
Testosterone is one of the hormones that contribute to healthy sexual function in women. Typically, however, testosterone therapy isn't recommended to improve low sex drive. For women, other factors are generally more important in determining sex drive — and much remains unknown about the effects of testosterone therapy in women.
Various factors associated with menopause and aging may contribute to changes in a woman's sexual desire and function. These include decreased estrogen levels, vaginal dryness, medication side effects, chronic health conditions, or the loss of a spouse or partner.
A woman's testosterone level gradually declines with age. Although natural menopause doesn't lead to an abrupt change in testosterone level, surgical menopause — which occurs after removal of the ovaries — can have this effect.
If a woman experiences reduced sex drive, depression and fatigue after removal of the ovaries, estrogen therapy may be recommended. If estrogen therapy isn't effective, low-dose testosterone therapy may be another option. Testosterone therapy may also be considered for postmenopausal women taking estrogen who have a decreased sex drive with no other identifiable causes.
In general, testosterone therapy is prescribed only for women who have sufficient estrogen levels. Typically, testosterone therapy isn't recommended for women who are postmenopausal and can't or choose not to take estrogen. Testosterone therapy isn't appropriate for postmenopausal women who have a history of breast or uterine cancer or those who have cardiovascular or liver disease.
For women, testosterone therapy can be given in the form of a cream or gel, and sometimes it's prescribed as a pill or injection. There have been no long-term studies of the risks and benefits of testosterone therapy in women. The most common side effects of testosterone therapy include acne and excess facial hair. Less common side effects include lowering of the voice, enlargement of the clitoris, liver problems, and mood or personality changes.
If you choose to try testosterone therapy, it's important to carefully monitor your symptoms and any side effects.
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