A testosterone skin patch could be an answer to boosting women's sexual desire after menopause, according to new research that's just revealed how much the patch can help.

It's not inevitable, but researchers believe one in three women lose some sexual desire around menopause.

For some, the emotional distress of losing both desire and pleasure can have a profound effect.

MORE ON THIS STORY Menopause info from NIH More on the patch

It was those women, who were naturally menopausal, that researchers chose to study a specially-designed testosterone patch.

"These were women who had previously enjoyed normal sexual function, but had noticed during the course of their menopause a diminution in their desire," said Dr. Robin Kroll of the Women's Clinical Research Center in Seattle.

The patch delivers a tiny dose of testosterone to replace what women lose when their bodies stop producing it.

When the researchers compared the testosterone patch to a placebo, they found women on the patch had sex four more times than usual over two months. They also had more arousal, more pleasure, more orgasms and better self image.

Three out of four women experienced mild side effects of excess facial hair and skin irritation at the site of the patch but none wanted to stop wearing it.

"Clinicians are going to be very excited about these study results, because we have not had a good option to offer our patients," Kroll said.

It's an option Kroll said could improve not only women's sex lives, but their mental health, relationships and general well being as well. The manufacturer is hoping a testosterone patch for women could be approved as soon as six months from now.