Osteoporosis Prevention Medication Increases Orgasm in Postmenopausal Women

Do osteoporosis medications impact sexual function? That’s what researchers from the Southern California Center for Sexual Health and Survivorship Medicine and Sermonix Pharmaceuticals aimed to find in a study presented at The North American Menopause Society 27^th Annual Meeting (NAMS 2016) in Orlando, Florida.

Part of a phase 2 osteoporosis prevention clinical trial looked at selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). Lasofoxifene (Fablyn) is used to prevent and treat osteoporosis and raloxifene (Evista) is indicated to do the same in postmenopausal women.

The study included 410 postmenopausal women ages 50 to 74. All of the participants had follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) greater than 30 IU/L, body mass index (BMI) of less than 32, haven’t had a menstrual period in at least one year or estradiol level of less than 110 pmol/L. In addition, they had non-osteoporotic based on lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD), normal gynecological exam, mammogram, and endometrial thickness less than 5 mm from transvaginal ultrasound. None of the women were on estrogen therapy or had a history of any metabolic bone disease or significant medical disorders.

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The women were randomly assigned to receive either 0.25 mg or 1 mg per day of lasofoxifene (82 women), 60 mg per day of raloxifene (164 women), or placebo (83 women). They estimated sexual activity and orgasm, as well as took the Women’s Health Questionnaire — which analyzes vaginal health from dyspareunia, dryness, irritation, and dysuria – at baseline, week 12, month six, and month 12.

At month six, those taking lasofoxifene, both doses, had increased levels of sexual activity and orgasm, but they were not considered statistically significance. Compared to raloxifene and placebo, women taking lasofoxifene had a statistically significant increased sexual activity and orgasm.

Adverse events were similar in the lasofoxifene and raloxifene groups. Hot flashes were reported at month three in those taking lasofoxifene, but they decreased over time and were gone at month 24. “Mean endometrial thickness at month 24 was higher in the 0.25 and 1 mg lasofoxifene groups compared to placebo,” the report said. “The mean increase compared to placebo in the 0.25 mg and 1 mg lasofoxifene groups was 1.65 and 1.75 mm, respectively.”

In postmenopausal women in this osteoporosis prevention trial, those taking lasofoxifene experienced increased sexual activity and orgasm. The drug seems to be comparable to raloxifene in terms of safety.

Also on MD Magazine >>> More News from NAMS 2016 in Orlando