Objective: To determine the effect of the androgen supplementation of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on the vascular reactivity of cerebral arteries.
Design: Open randomized study.
Setting: Healthy volunteers in an academic research environment.
Patient(s): Forty postmenopausal women who were treated with sequential HRT (transdermal E2 50 microg/d + medroxyprogesterone acetate 10 mg/d for 12 days every other month) for > or =1 year and < or =5 years.
Intervention(s): Testosterone undecanoate (40 mg/d, p.o.) was randomly administered to 20 patients during ongoing HRT; the other 20 served as controls. Doppler evaluations of the internal carotid and middle cerebral arteries were performed together with lipid levels assessments. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate various parameters relating to sexual life and well-being.
Main outcome measure(s): Pulsatility index (PI) of the arteries, VAS assessment of psychophysical well-being.
Result(s): The administration of testosterone undecanoate during HRT induced an increase in the PI of the middle cerebral artery and a reduction of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Sexual desire and satisfaction were greatly improved.
Conclusion(s): In postmenopausal women, androgen supplementation during HRT can partially counteract the beneficial effects of estrogens on cerebral vascular reactivity and lipid profiles, but sexual desire and satisfaction are greatly improved.