Testosterone for women
One evidence-based use: low sexual desire after menopause.
VIDEO LESSON
How it's used
• Transdermal only, at doses that keep levels in the premenopausal range
• Where no female product exists, about one-tenth of a male gel dose, measured carefully
• Compounded products are not recommended
Side effects at a glance
• Acne and hair growth at the application site
• Excess dosing can cause voice deepening or clitoral enlargement
Monitoring
Testosterone level at baseline and 3 to 6 weeks, then about every 6 months. Stop if there's no benefit by 6 months.
Good to know
The only evidence-based indication is low sexual desire with distress (HSDD) after menopause.
AT A GLANCE
Class
Women’s health
Brand names
No FDA-approved product for women in the US
Status
Off-label
Reviewed by
Farhan Tahir, MD
Is this medicine right for you?
Prescription medicines need individual medical advice. Dr. Tahir’s team offers consults through Youthful Medicine.
MECHANISM
How it works
Low-dose transdermal testosterone acts on androgen receptors in the brain and genital tissue. Women make testosterone too, and levels fall gradually with age.
THE EVIDENCE
What the research actually shows.
EVIDENCE SUMMARY
The 2019 Global Consensus Position Statement, endorsed by major menopause and endocrine societies, concludes the only evidence-based indication is hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in postmenopausal women, after other causes have been addressed. There is no FDA-approved testosterone product for women in the US, so doses are kept low to hold blood levels within the normal female range.
KEY TRIALS
Global Consensus Position Statement (2019)
TYPICAL RESULT
Modest improvement in desire and satisfying sexual events
SAFETY
Risks, side effects and who should avoid it
Too much can cause acne and unwanted hair growth and, rarely, voice deepening. It is not recommended for energy, mood, bone or memory, and long-term safety data are limited. Blood levels are checked before and after starting.
This summary is not a complete list of risks. Read the official prescribing information and discuss your own history with your clinician.
KEY REFERENCE
Davis SR et al. Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2019;104(10):4660–4666.
Educational content only, reviewed by Farhan Tahir, MD. Not individual medical advice. Medicines named here require a prescription and medical supervision.