Decreased testosterone in regularly menstruating women with decreased libido: A clinical observation

Much more information is available concerning decreased libido Much in post menopausal than in premenopausal women. Even less is known about androgen d eficiency, in younger women. We measured total and free testosterone levels in 12 consecutive premenopausal women complaining of decreased libido. Of the 12 women, 8 bad low, or immeasurable levels of testosterone despite hav ing regular menstrual periods. Androgen precursor hormones, DHEA-S and Andr ostenedione, were low-normal to high-normal. Treatment with oral DHEA., 50 to 100 mg per day, restored sexual desire in 6 of the 8 women, gave partial improvement in one, and failed in another. Possible significance and etiol ogical mechanism are discussed.