Sexual Health

Hormone Replacement Therapy for Menopausal and Postmenopausal Women with Sexual Dysfunction

Sexual health and desire play an important role in well-being and quality of life. Menopausal and postmenopausal women experience Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) and Female Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD), equating to poor sexual health, at alarming rates of up to 86%.1 Furthermore, a European vulvovaginal epidemiological survey conducted with over two thousand postmenopausal women concluded that 90% of postmenopausal women have Vulvovaginal Atrophy (VVA) symptoms.2 For those numerous women to whom sexual health remains important throughout their lifetime, these symptoms are a cause for alarm.

During menopause, women’s estrogen levels go through severe fluctuations before eventually stabilizing at a much lower output. The physical manifestations of lowering estrogen levels in women begin with vaginal dryness, progressing to atrophy.

Combined with reduced blood flow to the clitoris, a decline in sensory perception follows. These changes in the functioning of the female genitals contribute to dyspareunia (pain with intercourse or insertion of any device), which makes it harder for women to engage sexually and have pleasurable responses.

The mucous membranes of the lower urogenital tract are also impacted by estrogen production. Adequate estrogen is needed for flow of blood to the vaginal mucosa. Estrogen also supports proliferation of vaginal wall epithelium, smooth muscle fibers, and collagen to maintain the vagina’s rugae. In short, low estrogen levels cause the epithelium to thin, a loss of barrier function, a decrease in vaginal folding, and ultimately, the elasticity of the tissues decreases. These particular symptoms are often associated with VVA2.

Decreased libido and quality of life issues are even more sudden when a woman’s hormones rapidly --rather than gradually -- decline because of chemical menopause or post-surgical events. For instance, young women with bilateral oophorectomy (where both ovaries are removed) tend to have their testosterone levels reduced by 50%. In general, low testosterone levels are associated with low libido, reduced sexual desire, faltering motivation, distress, and reduced sense of well-being. Testosterone is also necessary for modulating clitoral and vaginal physiology to provide genital lubrication, engorgement, and sensation.3 In the four years leading up to menopause, there is a notable decline in testosterone production that continues for two years into menopause.

Treating female sexual dysfunction and the benefits of BHRT

The use of bio-identical hormones can positively influence women’s sexual health, particularly in relation to menopause. For instance, in an analysis of multiple studies, women reported improved quality of life, increased overall satisfaction, and fewer side effects with BHRT over HRT. Specifically, the use of bio-identical progesterone resulted in a 30% improvement in sexual function.4

Both systemic and topical pharmacological estrogen can improve vaginal mucosa thickness as well as relieve other symptoms of VVA impacting sexual health. According to studies, systemic HRT gets rid of VVA symptoms in 75% of cases. Local HRT has a higher success rate, effective in 80% to 90% of cases. In general, local estrogen therapy can help to avoid hepatic metabolism in order to minimize the instance of side effects.2

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) is the most abundant female sex steroid. It is also an androgen and a testosterone precursor. The use of DHEA therapy has had positive results regarding sexual functioning. In addition, the presence of testosterone is the single most important determinant of sexual factors and mood and has been positively linked to orgasm. Evidence of this comes from studies, including research on healthy midlife and older females that show how testosterone replacement therapy enhances sexual functioning.5

Other studies on bio-identical testosterone replacement therapy and its effectiveness in improving the sexual health of women are promising as well. A Watson Pharmaceutical study demonstrated that women who have undergone total hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy show positive results with no serious side effects when treated with bio-identical testosterone.6

Both testosterone and DHEA-S exhibit two mechanisms of action on mood indicators and sexual behavior. One of the mechanisms involves steroid action where they enter the cell’s nucleus and induce protein synthesis and transcription. The effects are slow, meaning it could be weeks before results are seen. The other mechanism is the neurosteroid function, where the steroid acts as a neurotransmitter. The effects of this mechanism can sometimes be seen within an hour if the hormones are taken sublingually.6

In a randomized, double-blind trial, 216 women with moderate to several VVA symptoms were given a 1% dose of DHEA versus a placebo intravaginally. The results showed the treatment groups had 68% improvement in arousal and sexual sensation, 39% improvement in arousal and lubrication, 75%improvement in orgasm, and 57% improvement in dryness during intercourse.2 This BHRT treatment indicates that intravaginal combined androgenic/estrogenic stimulation has significant benefits on sexual function without affecting the brain or extravaginal tissues.

Conclusions

Sexual health remains important during and post-menopause; it is necessary for maintaining well-being, satisfaction, and quality of life. The use of BHRT to treat female sexual dysfunction has promising results, helping perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal women achieve sexual health as they age. The current clinical research and data suggest that bio-identical hormone therapy seems to be the most effective and safe treatment for FSD in its various forms.

In light of our understanding of women's reproductive hormone cycles and--more specifically-- the value of a rise in androgens mid-cycle (when ovulation would typically occur) on urogenital structural integrity and mental-emotional-sexual function, it makes sense that physiologic restoration of said hormones would be most beneficial to women's health when those hormones decline.


REFERENCES

1. Heidari, M. et al. (2019). Sexual Function and Factors Affecting Menopause: A Systematic Review. J Menopausal Med. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6487288/

2. Naumova, I. & Castelo-Branco, C. (2018). Current treatment options for postmenopausalvaginal atrophy. International Journal of Women’s Health. Volume 10: 387–395.

3. AlAwlaqi, A. et al. (2017). Role of hormones in hypoactive sexual desire disorder and current treatment. J Turk Ger Gynecol Assoc. Volume 18: 210-8.

4. Holtorf, K. (2009). The Bioidentical Hormone Debate: Are Bioidentical Hormones (Estradiol, Estriol, and Progesterone) Safer or More Efficacious than Commonly Used Synthetic Versions in Hormone Replacement Therapy? Postgraduate Medicine. Volume 121:1; 1-13.

5. Mernone, L. et al. (2019). Psychobiological factors of sexual functioning in aging women – findings from the women 40+ healthy aging study. Frontiers in Psychology. Volume 10: Article 546.

6. Cutter, C.B. (2004). Androgen deficiency in women: understanding the science, controversy, and art of treating our patients. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding. Vol. 8:1; 16-21.

The goal of WHN is to expand the Standard of Care by promoting, advocating, and advancing women's wellbeing and longevity through clinical research and education about the benefits of Physiologic Restoration to reduce the symptoms of hormone imbalance, chronic disease and degenerative decline.
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