[Treatment of diminished sexual response associated with the use of oral contraceptives (author's transl)].

Loss of libido associated with the use of oral contraceptives has been studied in 113 women of reproductive age who had taken a combined pill for periods ranging from 1 to 3 years. The patients were divided in four groups. In the first group (I) of 24 women oral contraceptive treatment was discontinued and all women received in intra-uterine contraceptive device (IUCD). The second group (II) of 36 patients, the brand of oral contraceptive was changed. Women in group (III) had their oral contraceptive maintained receiving in addition a mixture of an androgen and an estrogen (methyltestosterone 4 mg and ethynilestradiol 0.002 mg) daily. To women of group (IV) the oral contraceptive was discontinued but the androgen-estrogen mixture was given. All women in this group received an IUCD. Evaluation of the psyco-sexual parameters included changes in libido, time to reach an orgasm, duration and intensity or orgasms. Frequency of intercourse and response to autostimulation was also investigated. Libido was restored in 94.2% of patients in group II, in 97.3% of group III and in 92.8% of group IV. In group I only 55.6% of patients had libido fully restored. In view of the prompt restoration of libido in all groups except in patients discontinuing oral contraceptive therapy, it is suggested that loss of libido in oral contraceptive users has an important physological component which can be overcome probably by psychotherapy. Short term treatment with a mixture of methyltestosterone and ethynilestradiol seems to be highly effective in restoring libido in all patients.