Professor Janice Rymer from the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology comments "Following removal of the ovaries, levels of testosterone drop dramatically by around 50% causing a potentially distressing decrease in sexual desire for many women."

"It is very rarely mentioned that in young women testosterone levels are actually higher than oestrogen. Many of my surgical menopause patients tell me they feel sexually numb and are really concerned about their relationship", comments Mr Nick Panay, consultant gynaecologist and patron of The Daisy Network, a nationwide support group for women with premature menopause. "Intrinsa offers real medical hope to these women as studies showed that the patch increases sexual desire and satisfying sexual activity, while reducing associated distress."

Clinical trials involving over 1,000 surgically menopausal women with low sexual desire and associated distress on concomitant oestrogen therapy, reported significantly increased sexual desire and satisfying sexual activity at six months with Intrinsa compared with placebo, as well as significantly decreased personal concern due to low sexual desire.1,2 Studies up to one year show Intrinsa is generally well tolerated; further long-term studies are ongoing.

Current product information recommends Intrinsa for women up to the age of 60, as there are limited treatment data in women with surgical menopause over this age. Intrinsa is not recommended for women using oral conjugated equine oestrogen (CEE), as efficacy has not been demonstrated. Intrinsa treatment response should be evaluated within 3-6 months of initiation, to determine if continued therapy is appropriate. Continued use of Intrinsa is only recommended while concomitant use of estrogen is considered appropriate.

Procter & Gamble has a rich heritage in health care that extends back more than 150 years. Then and now, P&G is driven by our mission to improve the lives of people around the world every day. P&G's health care products include prescription medicines, over-the-counter medications and oral care products. P&G began developing and marketing prescription products in the late-1960s.

5 Judd HL et al. Effect of oophorectomy on circulating testosterone and androstenedione levels in patients with endometrial cancer. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1974; 118(6):793-798.

7 Laughlin GA et al . Hysterectomy, oophorectomy, and endogenous sex hormone levels in older women: the Rancho Bernardo study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000; 85:645-651.

12 Basson R et al. Report of the international consensus development conference on female sexual dysfunction: definitions and classifications. J Urol. 2000; 163:888-893.

13 American Psychiatric Association. Sexual and gender identity disorders. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4 th edn, text revision (DSM -IV-TR). Washington , DC : American Psychiatric Association; 2000: 535-582.

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