[Sexual dysfunction in the menopause. Incidence, pharmacological treatment and side effects]

The frequency of female sexual dysfunction increases with age, and the menopause has a negative influence on sexual life. Pharmacological treatment options of female sexual dysfunctions in the menopause include hormone therapy and sildenafil. Few randomised controlled studies have been done, and there is evidence suggesting that systemic hormone therapy, such as estrogen, estrogen/progesterone, estrogen/testosterone and tibolone, has a positive impact on sexual dysfunction in the menopause. There is evidence that local estrogen relieves vaginal dryness and dyspareunia. The recent discoveries of the side effects of hormone therapy necessitate careful evaluation of the indication for hormone therapy, and the duration of treatment is recommended to be as short as possible. The long-term side effects of testosterone in women have not yet been fully investigated. Sildenafil has shown a positive effect on female sexual dysfunction only in a limited group of women: those with arousal problems without desire problems. This result demands a focus on new pharmaceutical products, and at present the effect of testosterone and selective estrogen receptor modulators on female sexual dysfunction is being investigated.