An external perspective on the report of the International Consensus Development Conference on Female Sexual Dysfunction: more work to be done.
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Decision Making↗
Biomedical subjects
S R Davis
Publications and source records attributed to S R Davis.
The clinical use of androgens in female sexual disorders.
Sexual health is an important component of overall health and well being. Multiple factors clearly influence an individual's sexuality; however, there is a general trend in Western societies to blame psychosocial factors for diminished sexuality in women. Sex steroid hormones are important determinants of sexual function in women and men, and there is increasing agreement that androgens play a key role in female sexuality. Androgen levels in women decline substantially during the reproductive years, with little change subsequent to spontaneous menopause. The most common complaint of women experiencing androgen deficiency is loss of sexual desire, and several studies have now shown improvements in a number of parameters of sexuality in postmenopausal women treated with exogenous testosterone.
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗
Phytoestrogens and breast cancer in postmenopausal women: a case control study.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between isoflavones, androgens, and dietary composition and the risk of breast cancer in Australian postmenopausal women. DESIGN: Eighteen women with recently diagnosed breast cancer before surgery and 20 controls were recruited over a 12-month period. Both cases and controls were similarly assessed for urinary isoflavones, serum and urinary sex steroids, and dietary intake. RESULTS: Women with breast cancer had lower 24-h urinary daidzein compared with controls (cases: 31 [95% CI: 4, 234] nmol/day; controls: 427 [95% CI: 4, 234] nmol/day; p = 0.03), and there was a trend to lower urinary genistein excretion (cases: 25 [95% CI: 5, 132] nmol/day; controls: 155 [95% CI: 43, 550] nmol/day; p = 0.08). Total testosterone was higher in women with breast cancer compared with controls (cases: 1.3 [95% CI: 1.1, 1.5] nmol/L; controls: 1.0 [95% CI: 0.8, 1.11 nmol/L; p = 0.05). No significant differences were found for serum sex hormone binding globulin, free androgen index, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, estradiol and progesterone, or in urinary androgen metabolites, or in dietary intake with regard to fat, carbohydrate, protein, or fiber consumption between cases and controls. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study is the first report of low urinary daidzein and genistein in postmenopausal women with breast cancer. These findings are in keeping with the increasing observational data demonstrating a protective effect from phytoestrogens on breast cancer risk.
Breast Neoplasms↗
Effects of estradiol with and without testosterone on body composition and relationships with lipids in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE: The cardioprotective effects of postmenopausal estrogen replacement therapy are mediated by several mechanisms, including favorable effects on lipids and lipoproteins. The extent to which the latter reflects modification of body fat distribution by sex steroids is not known. Hence, we investigated the relationships between changes in lipids and measures of body composition in postmenopausal women who were administered estrogen therapy with and without testosterone. DESIGN: We randomized 33 postmenopausal women to treatment with either estradiol 50 mg (E) alone or estradiol 50 mg plus testosterone 50 mg implants (E&T) administered every 3 months for 2 years in conjunction with cyclic oral progestins for women with an intact uterus. RESULTS: Both therapies were associated with sustained reductions in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. In women who received E but not E&T, hip (p < 0.001) and abdominal circumferences (p < 0.05) and fat mass:fat-free mass (FM:FFM) ratio over the abdomen (p < 0.05) declined. E&T but not E resulted in increased FFM (p < 0.001) and a reduced FM:FFM ratio (p < 0.05). For E but not E&T, the decrease in LDL cholesterol was significantly related to changes in total and compartmental body fat and to change in the FM:FFM ratio (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Estrogen replacement has effects on body fat distribution in postmenopausal women that are associated with improved lipid parameters. Addition ofparenteral testosterone does not negate the favorable effects of estrogen on LDL cholesterol levels but may attenuate the reduction in centralized body fat achieved with E implants.
Absorptiometry, Photon↗
Androgens and female sexuality.
An accumulating body of data indicates that many women experience a cluster of symptoms that are responsive to testosterone treatment and may be due to androgen deficiency. Characteristically, affected women complain of low libido, persistent fatigue, and diminished well-being and are found to have low circulating bioavailable testosterone. Whether the apparent therapeutic effects of testosterone are mediated via the androgen receptor or as a consequence of metabolism to estrogen is not known. Despite the lack of understanding of the mechanism(s) by which testosterone may enhance libido, the prescription of testosterone to women in a variety of formulations is becoming increasingly popular. This article provides an overview of the rationale for testosterone therapy in women, offers a broad definition of androgen deficiency in women based on the clinical experience of the author, and outlines the currently available options and potential risks of testosterone replacement in women.
Androgens↗
Effect of estrogen replacement therapy on patella cartilage in healthy women.
OBJECTIVES: Patellofemoral osteoarthritis (OA) is a significant cause of morbidity. Epidemiological data suggests that the use of oestrogen replacement therapy (ERT) may protect against tibiofemoral knee OA. However, the effect on patellofemoral OA is unknown. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that long term ERT (greater than 5 years) is associated with increased patella cartilage in post menopausal women. METHODS: We studied 81 women (42 current users (> 5 yrs) of oestrogen replacement therapy and 39 never users). Articular cartilage volumes were determined by post-processing images acquired in the sagittal plane using a T1-weighted fat suppressed magnetic resonance sequence on an independent workstation. RESULTS: There was no difference in the amount of patella cartilage in women on ERT compared to women on no ERT. After adjusting for patella bone size, years since menopause, body mass index, age of menopause and smoking, ERT users had 2.07 +/- 0.76 ml of patella cartilage compared to 1.93 +/- 0.89 ml in non-users (P = 0.24 for difference). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that use of ERT for more than 5 years does not have a significant effect on patella cartilage, in contrast to the previously described effect on tibial cartilage. The reasons for this are unknown, but may indicate that there are differences in the mechanisms for development of knee OA at these sites.
Body Mass Index↗