The effect of ultralow-dose transdermal estradiol on sexual function in postmenopausal women.
Author(s): Huang A, Yaffe K, Vittinghoff E, Kuppermann M, Addis I, Hanes V, Quan J, Grady D
Affiliation(s): Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA. ahuang@ucsfmed.org
Publication date & source: 2008-03, Am J Obstet Gynecol., 198(3):265.e1-7.
Publication type: Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to examine the effect of ultralow-dose transdermal estradiol on sexual function in postmenopausal women. STUDY DESIGN: Analysis of data from a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a 0.014 mg/day transdermal estradiol patch in 417 women aged 60 to 80 years. Sexual function was assessed by self-administered questionnaires at baseline and 4, 12, and 24 months. A linear effects model was used to assess treatment effects using data from all on-study assessments. RESULTS: Women randomly assigned to estradiol had a 4.3 point greater improvement in the vaginal pain/dryness domain relative to placebo (95% CI = 0.3-8.4, P = .04). No significant differences in frequency of sexual activity or other sexual function domains (desire, satisfaction, problems, or orgasm) were observed between treatment groups (P > or = .10 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Ultralow-dose estradiol resulted in modest improvement in sexual function related to vaginal pain and dryness, but not in other domains of sexual function.
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