Randomised trial, 1998
Is low-dose testosterone treatment safe for women with severe PMS?
Low-dose testosterone treatment caused small unfavorable changes in cholesterol that could increase heart disease risk, but did not damage the ovaries. This is a small comparison study without random assignment, so results are preliminary.
What they did
A comparison of 22 women with severe PMS who had been treated with testosterone implants (100 mg injected under the skin every 6 months) for an average of 3.3 years, versus 22 similar untreated women with severe PMS. Blood tests measured cholesterol and clotting factors. Ovarian ultrasounds were performed between days 1 to 4 of the menstrual cycle.
What they found
Testosterone levels were higher in treated women (4.5 nmol/l) versus controls (1.9 nmol/l). HDL cholesterol (the good kind) was lower in the testosterone group (1.3 vs 1.5 nmol/l). Apolipoprotein A1 was lower (99.2 vs 116.2 g/l). VLDL cholesterol was higher (0.4 vs 0.2 nmol/l). Ovarian ultrasounds were normal in both groups. No women reported side effects like unwanted hair growth or acne.
What it means for you
Low-dose testosterone treatment for severe PMS may have small negative effects on cholesterol patterns that could increase heart disease risk, but ovaries appear unaffected. This was a small comparison study without random assignment, so more research is needed.
22 per group
Number of women compared
100 mg
Testosterone implant dose every 6 months
3.3 years
Average treatment duration
About the study
- Original title
- The effects of low-dose testosterone treatment on lipid metabolism, clotting factors and ultrasonographic ovarian morphology in women
- Authors
- Buckler HM, McElhone K, Durrington PN et al.
- Journal
- Clinical endocrinology
- Year
- 1998
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- Subcutaneous testosterone implants (100 mg every 6 months)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2265.1998.00525.x
Topics
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