Open AccessIs sexual life influenced by transdermal estrogen therapy?
Author(s) -
NathorstBöös Jörgen,
Wiklund Ingela,
Mattsson LarsÅke,
Sandin Kristina,
Schoultz Bo
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016349309021160
Subject(s) - medicine , orgasm , quality of life (healthcare) , climacteric , menopause , hormone replacement therapy (female to male) , sexual intercourse , transdermal , hormone therapy , sexual life , placebo , sexual desire , sexual dysfunction , sex life , gynecology , physical therapy , human sexuality , testosterone (patch) , population , alternative medicine , gender studies , nursing , environmental health , pathology , cancer , sociology , breast cancer , pharmacology
Two hundred and forty‐two postmenopausal women between 35 and 65 years of age requiring hormone replacement therapy for climacteric symptoms were blindly and randomly allocated to treatment either with transdermal estradiol therapy (Estraderm* 50 μg/24 h) (E) or placebo (P). The patches were changed twice a week and treatment continued for 12 weeks. No progestogen supplement therapy was given during the study. No previous hormone replacement therapy had been given for the last six months and the women had had their last menstruation more than sin months ago. As a part of a larger study assessing women's quality of life, a Swedish version of ‘McCoy's Sex Scale Questionnaire’ was administered at the start of treatment and after 12 weeks. This questionnaire contains nine items regarding different aspects of sexual life. The difference between the scorings at the start of treatment and after 12 weeks were calculated for each item and the values of the E and the P groups were compared. Items regarding ‘satisfaction with frequency of sexual activity, sexual fantasies. degree of enjoyment. vaginal lubrication and pain during intercourse’ were positively influenced in the E group compared to the P group. Items not affected were ‘frequency of orgasm and sexual arousal’. A correlation between improved sexual life and quality of life was also found when the results from the McCoy scale were compared with a battery of quality of life questionnaires.