That Happened!

New York - A new patch may restore older women’s sex drive, but it’s not yet the female answer to Viagra.

A testosterone patch tested by Proctor & Gamble has the potential to boost older women’s sex drive after menopause, but the supposed risk of cancer prevents the hormone from being approved in the U.S.

The product, called Intrinsa and available in Europe, increases testosterone in women, a hormone known to influence sex drive. The drug is marketed toward women who experience “hypoactive sexual desire disorder,” which decreases sex drive to the point of depression. Up to 30 percent of women cite decreased sexual desire as a result of menopause, but some are weary to classify this as a medical disorder.

“There was an increase in desire, arousal organisms and a reduction in distress, making it a meaningful treatment for women,” one of the study’s authors, Dr. Michelle Moreau of the Salisbury Clinic in the United Kingdom said.

The women in the study, who were all around 54 years old, kept a diary of “satisfying sexual experiences” for approximately six months. Those wearing the Intrinsa patch saw their satisfying experiences double, while those wearing a fake patch experienced on average only 1 more satisfying experience per week.

About 30 percent of the women involved in the study who were given 300 mcg of testosterone experienced unwanted hair growth.  Others side effects reported included acne.   Four women also developed breast cancer.

Despite the results, concerns still persist as to the safety of long-term hormone treatments, which may lead to breast cancer.

Proctor & Gamble have not released any information as to when the drug will be put before the FDA for approval.

The study is published in the New England Journal of Medicine.