Sexual complaints related to desire, arousal, orgasm and painful intercourse are common in women.1 Since the last Medical Letter article on this subject,2 some new information has become available.

ESTROGEN — Treatment of postmenopausal women with systemic or vaginal estrogen can increase glandular secretions and the thickness and elasticity of the vagina, reversing the vaginal atrophy and dryness that can cause dyspareunia and other sexual pain syndromes.3 Vaginal estrogens may be more effective than oral estrogens for treatment of vaginal symptoms. Systemic estrogen therapy can be particularly helpful for female sexual dysfunction associated with hot flushes and night sweats. There are no convincing data that estrogen therapy enhances desire, arousal or sexual response in the absence of vaginal or vasomotor symptoms.

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