FEMALE HYPOACTIVE SEXUAL DESIRE DISORDER DUE TO ANDROGEN DEFICIENCY -CLINICAL AND PSYCHOMETRIC ISSUES

Menopause, surgical or naturally occurring, with reduced or deficient ovarian functioning has a major impact on morbidity and mortality in m id to late life. In particular, a growing body of literature is focusi ng on the role of androgens in maintaining women's health and emotiona l well-being. Further study is needed in the administration of physiol ogic levels of testosterone replacement therapy as an adjustment to es trogen replacement. The Sexual Energy Scale was developed to provide a n objective means of measuring the change in a patient's subjective ex perience of vitality/sexual energy with androgen replacement therapy. The scale also provides a clinical indication for androgen replacement dosage adjustment. Advantages in using low doses of methyltestosteron e in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder are discussed.