OBJECTIVE: Raloxifene, like other selective estrogen receptor modulators acts as an estrogen agonist on some tissues while as an estrogen antagonist on the others. Though its known neutral effect on vaginal mucosa, given estrogen’s diverse actions on the central nervous system, the clinical effects of raloxifene on libido is difficult to predict. Design: In this matched case-control study, we aimed to evaluate the clinic effects of raloxifene on sexual life. Setting: The study was performed in Gynecology and Obstetrics outpatient clinic of Gazi University Faculty of Medicine on January 2002- February 2005. Patients: Fifty women, in whom raloxifene was indicated for treatment of osteoporosis, were considered the study group, whereas 50 women not necessitating any medication and matched for age, postmenopausal years and educational status were enrolled as the control group. Intervention: Participants completed the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale that has been shown to be reliable and has been validated in Turkish population at baseline and at the 12-month study end-point. Main outcome measures: We compared the sexual function of the study and control subjects based on the drive, arousal, vaginal lubrication, ability to reach orgasm and satisfaction from orgasm subgroups, at the end of the one year. RESULTS: Raloxifene was associated with a significant improvement from baseline in the subgroup scores of arousal (P: 0.034) and satisfaction from orgasm, (P: 0.001), whereas there were no differences for total and other subgroup scores. In the control group and between groups there were no differences. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, raloxifene had positive effects on some parameters of sexual function like arousal and satisfaction from orgasm in postmenopausal women. As a conclusion, when planning the treatment of raloxifene it should not be ignored that it might have positive effects on sexual life, so the quality of life.

Keywords: arizona sexual experiences scale, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERM), sexual dysfunction