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Abstract
Female sexual function is highly complex and deeply influenced by hormonal and non-hormonal factors. As sexual dysfunction becomes a common and important problem for women of all ages with related quality of life issues, we need to understand more about the effect of sex steroid hormones in female sexual function. However, there are limited data about the correlation between the value of sex steroid hormones- testosterone, in particular-and female sexual function. In a certain type of female sexual dysfunction (FSD), hypoactive sexual desire disorder, for example, there is evidence that treatment with androgens or with estrogens is effective. To widen the therapeutic options of hormone replacement therapy in FSD, further research is needed as to the benefits and risks of hormonal treatments in both pre- and post-menopausal women. Although important unanswered questions still exist in hormonal treatment of FSD, new therapeutic strategies are being studied and many ongoing clinical trials are expecting favorable results leading to more successful treatment of FSD.
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Table 1.
Testosterone currently available in Korea∗
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