Tibolone, Unique Menopausal Therapy For Improvement Of Sexual Life In Postmenopausal Women

Main Category: Menopause
Article Date: 12 Jun 2004 - 14:00 PDT

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Recent studies indicate that sexual problems are common throughout the life span of women with prevalence estimates between 25% and 63%. Problems become more pronounced following the menopause. The majority of these problems are related to low sexual desire. Although sexual problems are notably under researched, there is evidence that they have significant impact on women's lives.

Conventional hormone therapy is not the answer for many women who continue to experience sexual difficulties and reduced sexual desire after the menopause. Tibolone - a tissue-selective therapy with a unique mode of action that alleviates climacteric symptoms - has the ability to improve mental and sexual well-being in postmenopausal women. Tibolone's ability to improve sexual functioning is mediated by distinctive effects of the drug which influence libido, arousal and satisfaction.

"A reduced sense of mental well-being may decrease the opportunity for a pleasurable perception of sexual intimacy during and after the menopause transition" said Rossella E. Nappi (Dept. of Obstetric & Gynecology, University of Pavia, Italy) at the fifth at world's fifth Latin American Livial Expert Meeting (LALEM). "Indeed, menopausal hormonal changes contribute to the clinical expression of sexual symptoms depending also on psycho-relational issues. Estrogen modulates genital blood flow, vaginal lubrication and vaginal tissue structural integrity together with a positive action on sexual awareness and receptivity. On the other hand, androgens promote libido and modulate vaginal and clitoral physiology by influencing the muscular tone of erectile tissue and of vaginal wall."

Randomized studies indicate that tibolone improves libido and sexual responsiveness to a greater extent than the conventional estrogen-progestogen treatments. Tibolone provides postmenopausal women suffering from sexual dysfunction and impaired well-being with an effective treatment option. This is also true for many women who continue to experience sexual difficulties and reduced sexual desire while using conventional HT.

Organon announced, on April 1st, the start of an international clinical study to investigate the use of Livial� (tibolone) - its tissue selective menopausal therapy - in the management of sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women. Existing studies provide evidence for a positive effect of Livial on sexual desire and enjoyment.

Livial is licensed for the relief of climacteric symptoms and prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Livial does not contain estrogen or progestogen and regulates estrogenic activity in a tissue selective manner. In addition, Livial has mild androgenic effects, and increases women's free testosterone. Available data suggests that several motivational aspects of sexual functioning are androgen-dependent.

Organon - headquartered in Roseland, NJ, USA - creates and markets prescription medicines that improve the health and quality of human life. Through a combination of independent growth and business partnerships, Organon strives to become or remain one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in each of its core therapeutic fields: reproductive medicine, psychiatry and anaesthesia.

Organon products are sold in over 100 countries, of which more than 60 have an Organon subsidiary. Organon is the human health care business unit of Akzo Nobel.

For media inquiries
Mrs. Monique Mols
monique.mols@organon.com

http://www.organon.com/news