Case: Management Issues
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Volume 9, Issue 1 (January 2013) This clinical e-newsletter from The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) presents questions and cases commonly seen in a menopause specialist’s practice. Recognized experts in the field provide their opinions and practical advice. Wen Shen, MD, MPH, the Editor of Menopause e-Consult, encourages your suggestions for future topics. Note that the opinions expressed in the commentaries are those of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by NAMS or Dr. Shen. Case: products were used by women in 2003.2 A patient requests your advice about Presumably, this approach to the aging US testosterone from a compounding pharmacy to female population and the increasing 3 supplement her hormone therapy. How should prevalence of low sexual desire with age you advise her? Are there any guidelines for augments demand for testosterone products for 4,5 dosing testosterone ordered from these women. As demonstrated in these reviews, pharmacies? evidence documents that testosterone treatment (local/clitoral, vaginal, and systemic) increases Management issues by: sexual desire and genital sensitivity, and might improve the intensity of orgasm. Prospective, James A. Simon, MD, CCD, randomized, clinical trials of a testosterone NCMP, FACOG patch developed specifically for women Clinical Professor, Department demonstrated a statistically significant increase of Ob/Gyn George Washington University in the number of satisfying sexual events and School of Medicine improved desire, arousal, orgasm, pleasure, Women’s Health & Research ® responsiveness, and self-image—while Consultants Washington, DC decreasing sexual concerns and distress. These findings were consistent in surgically and naturally menopausal women already on The controversy over compounding rages on. It estrogen therapy or estrogen and progestogen has been aggravated by questions of whether a therapy.5 The response to this therapy was substantial proportion of compounding is similar in women taking oral or transdermal simply manufacturing by a different name, as estrogen, and in women who were not taking manufacturing requires FDA oversight. New estrogen at all.6 Safety was demonstrated over concerns adding fuel to this fire have been as long as 4 years of treatment in a small raised over the safety of the practice. Many sample of women from these trials,7 but despite people have died in several states following the approval by the European regulatory recent fiasco related to mold contamination of authorities (MEA), the product was recently epidural methylprednisolone.1 In the absence discontinued by the manufacturer. An even of FDA-approved testosterone products for larger safety study of testosterone percutaneous women, many practitioners are faced with gel focusing specifically on the risks of breast similar challenges. cancer and cardiovascular disease was recently stopped by the gel manufacturer after 4 years It has been estimated that more than 1.3 million of study, but not because of an increase in prescriptions for compounded testosterone breast cancer or cardiovascular events. 2 Clinicians in the United States who want to hypogonadism), nor many other reasons for a provide testosterone treatment to their failed sexual relationship. Once I am sure that a postmenopausal patients are stuck with no hormonal option may help (a clinical FDA-approved products. Compounded copies judgment), I usually begin empirically with one of esterified estrogens 1.25 mg and of the above options. The major barriers to methyltestosterone 2.5 mg or esterified their use are fear of side effects (eg, hirsuitism, estrogens 0.625 mg and methyltestosterone acne) which are rare if used as noted above. 1.25 mg continue to be available. Other The other significant barrier is cost. Off-label compounded testosterone therapies remain use of male products rarely is included in available and suffer the same vagaries of insurance coverage, especially without an formulation, delivery, and safety. A reasonable approved indication in women. While initial solution for both the patient described above out-of-pocket costs may be high ($300), such and most US clinicians is to prescribe a prescriptions (a one month’s supply for a man) reduced dosage of testosterone products that usually last 10 to 12 months. are marketed (and FDA approved) for hypogonadal men. This is an off-label use. As Disclosure: Dr. Simon reports: Consultant/Advisory the testosterone production rate in a Board: Abbott Laboratories, Agile Therapeutics, Amgen, Ascend Therapeutics, BioSante, Depomed, Intimina by premenopausal woman is about 10% that of a Lelo, MD Therapeutics, Merck, Novo Nordisk, normal man, efforts to use male products at Novogyne, Pfizer, Shionogi, Slate Pharmaceuticals, about 10% the approved male dosage have Sprout Pharmaceuticals, Teva, Warner Chilcott, Watson proliferated. These regimens include: Pharmaceutical; Grants/Research Support: BioSante, testosterone injections (testosterone enanthate, EndoCeutics, Novo Nordisk, Novogyne, Palatin Technologies, Teva, and Warner Chilcott; Speakers cypionate, or propionate), 30 mg to 50 mg Bureau: Amgen, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, intramuscularly every 3 to 4 weeks; Novogyne, Teva, and Warner Chilcott; Chief Medical testosterone in a hydroalcoholic gel (ie, Officer: Sprout Pharmaceuticals. Androgel 1%, not the new 1.62%) from the pump—one depression of the pump twice or References: 1. Drazen JM, Curfman GD, Baden LR, Morrissey S. three times per week to the leg; or testosterone Compounding errors. N Engl J Med 2012;367:2436- gel (ie, Testim 1%), 6 drops per day applied to 2437. the lower leg. Another option is the crystalline 2. National Disease and Therapeutic Index, IMS Health, testosterone subcutaneous implant (Testopel). 2003. While many have used compounded 3. Shifren JL, Monz BU, Russo PA, et al. Sexual problems and distress in United States women: testosterone pellets for years, these prevalence and correlates. Obstet Gynecol compounded pellets often suffer from spotty 2008;112:970-978. sterilization and unreliable absorption. Like the 4. Simon JA. Low sexual desire—is it all in her head? other agents listed above, Testopel is not Pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of hypoactive approved for use in women, but preliminary sexual desire disorder. Postgrad Med 2010;122:128-136. 5. Krapf JM, Simon JA. The role of testosterone in the study results suggest that the proper dosing management of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in may be half to one full implant every 4 to 6 postmenopausal women. Maturitas 2009;63:213-219. months. 6. Davis SR, Moreau M, Kroll R, et al, for the APHRODITE Study Team. Testosterone for low libido So, with regard to the patient in this case, I in postmenopausal women not taking estrogen. N Engl J Med 2008;359:2005-2017. would first have to confirm that she has a 7. Nachtigall L, Casson P, Lucas J, et al. Safety and legitimate need for testosterone, as this therapy tolerability of testosterone patch therapy for up to 4 will not fix severe vulvovaginal atrophy, pelvic years in surgically menopausal women receiving oral pain, a bad marriage, a partner with erectile or transdermal oestrogen. Gynecol Endocrinol 2011; problems (unless he uses the testosterone for 27:39-48. 3 Question: is often the essence of who they believe How should you advise a patient concerned themselves to be and affects their social about her dry skin, wrinkles, and thinning hair? interactions and sense of well-being. Americans spend more than $33 billion on Commentary by: cosmetics and skin products each year. Our patients deserve a serious explanation about skin, hair, and nail issues. Kristi M. Saunders, MD, MS Staff Physician Genesis Health Care How does skin age? Skin is composed of Etna, NH layers: epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous. Being the largest of our organs, it is responsible for regulation of heat and cold, storage of water and fat, prevention of loss of water, sensation, and entrance of bacteria into our environment. As skin, hair, and nails age, they lose function, feeling, and color: Why do skin, hair, and nails age? There are several types of dermatological aging that • Loss of the moisture barrier from the women experience in middle age. epidermal lipids results in increased transepidermal water loss • Biological aging is a result of our • Loss of collagen causes less elasticity and individual clock and affects the rate at an increase in extensibility which skin wrinkles, hair thins, and nails • Aging blood vessels and glands cause thin. DNA is largely responsible these fragility, including noticeable skin tears, changes. poor healing, dryness, itching, and hair loss • Environmental aging is due to the daily • Loss of regeneration of keratinocytes thins exposures we encounter, whether wind, the skin and makes it look dull and feel cold weather, smoke, sun, or stress. These rough exposures damage lipids, proteins, and • Hyperpigmentation darkens the skin and DNA, resulting in stress on the cells and nails due to increased melanin causing premature aging. • Mechanical aging is the result of our Color changes. Melanin is produced by repeated behaviors to the outside of our melanocytes, which are activated by the sun skin such as frowning, smiling, squinting, and other inflammatory sources. This scrubbing, over-washing, and bruising. inflammation happens evenly or unevenly, causing tanning, wrinkles, and age spots. Other Estrogen has long been known to be a factor of sources of inflammation to the melanocytes the aging process. Loss of estrogen decreases that can cause discoloration include antibiotics, connective tissue turnover, collagen content, nonsteroidal medications, sex steroids, fabric 1 and dermal thickness. dyes, chemical irritants, plant irritants (eg, poison ivy), chemotherapy, and even physical Why is aging skin so important to our patients? trauma. Due to the aging process, the Skin is the only organ we can see. A study in melanocytes are more slowly brought to the the United Kingdom in 2011 reported that 64% surface and shed, thus causing more of women at a menopause clinic complained of unevenness and prolongation of color changes. bothersome skin changes, with dryness being the most common problem.