A recent trial showed testosterone patches more than doubled sexual episodes in postmenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder.

But Schover L R of University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center early in July 2008 published a comment in Fertility and sterility suggesting that testosterone should not be given to women with low sexual desire until the efficacy and safety is demonstrated.

One major concern is that use of testosterone likely increases risk of breast cancer. In the recent one-year trial, 4 out of more than 500 patients were diagnosed with the disease compared to none in the 277-membered control group.

Some medical workers tried to play down the potential risk, but studies have suggested that the risk is more than likely to be real.

Schover reviewed and critiqued recent randomized trials of testosterone therapy for low sexual function or satisfaction.

He said "endogenous androgen levels are not correlated with sexual desire in population-based studies of aging women."

The efficacy of testosterone therapy is modest while many factors can affect women's low sexual desire such as pain with sexual activity, emotional distress, life stress, and relationship conflict.

He pointed that expectancy effects were not adequately considered in randomized trials and epidemiologic studies have linked higher endogenous serum androgen levels to increased risk of breast cancer.

In conclusion, Schover said "testosterone supplementation should not be prescribed to women with low sexual desire unless long-term studies can demonstrate its efficacy and safety."

And "treatments for low sexual desire in women should address its common correlates: relationship distress, emotional distress, and dyspareunia."