Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Prevalence of symptoms in relation to androgen concentrations in women using estrogen plus progestogen and women using estrogen alone.

Spetz, Anna-Clara ; Fredriksson, Mats ; Lidfeldt, Jonas LU and Samsioe, Göran LU (2009) In Menopause Sep 4. p.149-155
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:: Women using estrogen plus progestogen therapy sometimes report difficult to describe symptoms, eg, changes in libido, mood, and memory, that may be related to decreased androgens. To evaluate the prevalence of such symptoms and relate these symptoms to androgen levels in women using estrogen plus progestogen therapy, data from the Women's Health in the Lund Area Study were analyzed. DESIGN:: A total of 2,816 women using estrogen plus progestogen therapy were asked to complete a questionnaire consisting of questions concerning sexual well-being and different aspects of quality of life. Serum concentrations of testosterone, androstendione, sex hormone-binding globulin, and estradiol were measured. RESULTS:: A total of 2,048... (More)
OBJECTIVE:: Women using estrogen plus progestogen therapy sometimes report difficult to describe symptoms, eg, changes in libido, mood, and memory, that may be related to decreased androgens. To evaluate the prevalence of such symptoms and relate these symptoms to androgen levels in women using estrogen plus progestogen therapy, data from the Women's Health in the Lund Area Study were analyzed. DESIGN:: A total of 2,816 women using estrogen plus progestogen therapy were asked to complete a questionnaire consisting of questions concerning sexual well-being and different aspects of quality of life. Serum concentrations of testosterone, androstendione, sex hormone-binding globulin, and estradiol were measured. RESULTS:: A total of 2,048 questionnaires were eligible for evaluation. Almost 40% of the women reported decreased libido. Approximately 70% were satisfied with their current sex life. Eight percent reported that intercourse was unpleasant because of vaginal dryness. No evident associations were found between libido and serum hormone concentrations. The most positive effects of estrogen plus progestogen therapy concerning memory and urinary tract and vaginal complaints were found in women with the highest and/or moderate testosterone levels (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS:: We found no strong association between symptoms related to sexual well-being or quality of life and androgen concentrations in this study. Estrogen plus progestogen therapy did not seem to affect symptoms that might be related to low levels of androgens in the group of climacteric women whom we studied. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Menopause
volume
Sep 4
pages
149 - 155
publisher
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
external identifiers
  • wos:000262333100024
  • pmid:18779755
  • scopus:64049099737
  • pmid:18779755
ISSN
1530-0374
DOI
10.1097/gme.0b013e31817f45b6
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ff26f52a-b6cf-4777-9e89-5b5c88522f86 (old id 1243251)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18779755?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 07:53:20
date last changed
2022-01-29 02:43:39
@article{ff26f52a-b6cf-4777-9e89-5b5c88522f86,
  abstract     = {{OBJECTIVE:: Women using estrogen plus progestogen therapy sometimes report difficult to describe symptoms, eg, changes in libido, mood, and memory, that may be related to decreased androgens. To evaluate the prevalence of such symptoms and relate these symptoms to androgen levels in women using estrogen plus progestogen therapy, data from the Women's Health in the Lund Area Study were analyzed. DESIGN:: A total of 2,816 women using estrogen plus progestogen therapy were asked to complete a questionnaire consisting of questions concerning sexual well-being and different aspects of quality of life. Serum concentrations of testosterone, androstendione, sex hormone-binding globulin, and estradiol were measured. RESULTS:: A total of 2,048 questionnaires were eligible for evaluation. Almost 40% of the women reported decreased libido. Approximately 70% were satisfied with their current sex life. Eight percent reported that intercourse was unpleasant because of vaginal dryness. No evident associations were found between libido and serum hormone concentrations. The most positive effects of estrogen plus progestogen therapy concerning memory and urinary tract and vaginal complaints were found in women with the highest and/or moderate testosterone levels (P &lt; 0.05). CONCLUSIONS:: We found no strong association between symptoms related to sexual well-being or quality of life and androgen concentrations in this study. Estrogen plus progestogen therapy did not seem to affect symptoms that might be related to low levels of androgens in the group of climacteric women whom we studied.}},
  author       = {{Spetz, Anna-Clara and Fredriksson, Mats and Lidfeldt, Jonas and Samsioe, Göran}},
  issn         = {{1530-0374}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{149--155}},
  publisher    = {{Lippincott Williams & Wilkins}},
  series       = {{Menopause}},
  title        = {{Prevalence of symptoms in relation to androgen concentrations in women using estrogen plus progestogen and women using estrogen alone.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/gme.0b013e31817f45b6}},
  doi          = {{10.1097/gme.0b013e31817f45b6}},
  volume       = {{Sep 4}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}