Intrinsa Patches

You can use the Intrinsa treatment if you are a woman under 60; have a low sexual desire, which is a cause of concern or distress; have both your ovaries removed; have hysterectomy and consequently womb removed; and are receiving oestrogen therapy.

The Intrinsa treatment may last for up to a year. You might experience positive effects in couple of months only. However, if you do not observe any improvement in 3-6 months, your doctor may advice you to stop the treatment.

The Intrinsa patches should be replaced 2 times a week i.e. if you start Intrinsa treatment on Monday, the next application should be on Thursday the same week. In any case, follow your doctor’s instructions carefully.

The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has approved the Intrinsa treatment. They concluded that the benefits of the Intrinsa treatment are far more than its risks and cleared Intrinsa for marketing and distribution. The European Commission also granted marketing authorization throughout the European Union to Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals on July 28, 2006.

After removing the ovaries, testosterone drops to half in menopausal women compared to before the operation. A decrease in testosterone is associated with low sexual desire, reduced sexual thoughts, and reduced sexual arousal.

Intrinsa supplies testosterone on a constant basis to the body and reverses all the effects caused by low testosterone levels.

The following side effects may occur commonly (in more than one out of 10 patients) at the site of the skin where the Intrinsa patch is applied: rashes, irritation, itching, redness.

The following side effects may occur when taking Intrinsa treatment. Most are mild and reversible:

• An increase in the amount of hair on the chin or upper lip
• Hair loss
• Acne
• Migraine
• Insomnia/inability to sleep properly
• Voice deepening or hoarseness
• Breast pain
• Weight gain

Women with the following conditions should not use Intrinsa patches:

• Allergic (hypersensitive) to testosterone or any other ingredients of Intrinsa
• Breast cancer or any other cancer caused or stimulated by the female hormone estrogen, also called 'estrogen-dependent' cancers
• Any other medical conditions that doctor may consider not appropriate for the use of oestrogen and/or testosterone
• History of heart, liver or kidney disease
• Diabetes

If you have a history of excessive adult acne, body or facial hair, hair loss, enlargement of the clitoris, voice deepening or hoarseness, take special care when taking Intrinsa.

Intrinsa is not suitable for men and children.