Testosterone Therapy for Women

Testosterone Therapy for Women

“Testosterone is produced by your ovaries
but does not change in menopause. This hormone
decreases gradually with age starting in your 40s…”.1

Umbrella

What may the Testosterone Therapy for Women Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Androgen
  • Male Androgen Hormone
  • Male Hormone
  • Male Sex Hormone
  • Testosterone
  • Testosterone Therapy/Treatment

Definition

What is testosterone?

DotS the definition of testosterone may vary. The Australian Menopause Society’s (AMS) definition is:

“Testosterone is the male sex hormone found in smaller amounts in women. In women, increased levels of testosterone can lead to acne and can cause unwanted facial or body hair (hirsutism). Low levels of testosterone in women may contribute to loss of libido and sometimes low mood and energy”.2

Female Hormone

Is testosterone a female hormone?

On page one in Testosterone Replacement In Menopause: Is Testosterone A Female Hormone? reviewed May 2026, the British Menopause Society (BMS) elaborate on:

“Yes – premenopausal women produce both testosterone and estrogen physiologically. Androgens, including testosterone, are essential for development and maintenance of female sexual anatomy and physiology, and modulation of sexual behaviour”.3

Testosterone Change

Does testosterone change in menopause?

In Menopause: Hormones and Menopause – Testosterone the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health explain:

“Testosterone is produced by your ovaries but levels do not change in menopause.

In women, testosterone levels gradually get lower with age. They drop by about a quarter between the ages of 18 and 39 years, and another quarter between the ages of 40 and 59 years.

Then they start to gently rise again from your 60s.

You might have heard that women’s testosterone levels drop significantly when they reach menopause, but this is not true. At menopause, estrogen and progesterone drop significantly.

Testosterone is not one of the main female hormones but it does have a role in women’s:

  • Sex drive (libido)
  • Emotional wellbeing
  • Bone and muscle strength.

Your doctor might suggest testosterone to help with loss of sex drive”.4

2025 Recommendations

What do the IMS’s recommendations published in December 2025, include?

In the International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause: 20. Androgen Therapy, Recommendation 20 includes:

  • “Available data do not support the prescription of testosterone for women for any symptom or condition (other than postmenopausal HSDD) or for disease prevention. Evidence quality ranges from ⨁⨁⨁◯ B to ⨁⨁⨁⨁ A”.5

What is HSDD?

HSDD can be an abbreviation for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in women.

2019 Recommendations

What do the International Menopause Society’s (IMS) recommendations published in 2019, include?

In the Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women, Recommendation 12 includes:

“(12) Recommendations regarding current testosterone therapy and postmenopausal women
(a) The only evidence-based indication for the use of testos-terone in women is for the treatment of postmeno-pausal women who have been diagnosed as having HSDD after formal biopsychosocial assessment (Level I, Grade A)”.6

Current Debate

What is the current debate about testosterone therapy for women?

There appear to be two major schools of thought about testosterone therapy for menopausal women.

One school of thought believes testosterone therapy should only be prescribed for postmenopausal women with HSDD in keeping with the IMS guidelines.

The other school of thought believes testosterone therapy could be prescribed more broadly for menopause symptoms such as low mood, low energy, memory problems, brain fog and more.

HSDD

What is HSDD in women?

DotS the definition of HSDD may vary. In What Is Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) In Women? What Causes It? the International Society for Sexual Medicine’s definition is:

“Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is a troublesome condition in which women lose interest in sex. The Society for Women’s Health Research estimates that one in ten women have HSDD, making it one of the most common female sexual health complaints”.7

Postmenopausal HSDD

For postmenopausal women experiencing HSDD, is testosterone therapy currently recommended?

On page one in Testosterone for Women: Why Use Testosterone? the (British) Women’s Health Concern (WHC), the patient arm of the British Menopause Society, elaborate on:

“Testosterone is currently recommended for women with persistent low sex drive, Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD). It is recommended that testosterone is only prescribed after all other possible factors, including taking inadequate estrogen replacement, have been addressed. Even with this indication, testosterone does not help everyone”.8

Testosterone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms

Is testosterone therapy recommended for some menopause symptoms?

On page two in the Testosterone Replacement In Menopause: What About the Potential Wider Benefits of Testosterone? reviewed May 2026, the BMS explain:

“Randomised clinical trials (RCTs) of testosterone to date have not demonstrated the beneficial effects of testosterone therapy for cognition, mood, energy and musculoskeletal health. Further, better designed studies are required with these health issues as primary outcome measures, as some individuals report improvement of these symptoms”.9

Effective or Not

How long can it sometimes take for the full effects of testosterone to work?

On page two in Testosterone for Women: How Is Testosterone Treatment Given? the WHC note:

“It can sometimes take a few months for the full effects of testosterone to work; a 3-6 month trial is often recommended. If you have not seen a benefit after this time, it is recommended that you stop”.10

Health Care Provider

What if I am considering testosterone therapy?

If you are considering testosterone therapy, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about the benefits, risks and regular follow up.

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Testosterone Therapy for Women?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Testosterone Therapy for Women?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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New or Updated
Studies Often Referred to:

  1. A Man’s Guide To Menopause
  2. A Biopsychosocial Approach To Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder
  3. Can You Have Systemic Testosterone on Its Own Without Oestrogen Therapy?
  4. Compounded Hormone Treatments: Separating the Myths From the Evidence | Dr Louise Newson Live Q&A
  5. Cutting Through the Myths Around Testosterone
  6. Don’t Believe the Hype. Menopausal Women Don’t All Need To Check – or Increase – Their Testosterone Levels
  7. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM): Diagnosis and Evidence-Based Management
  8. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Menopause and Mental Health: Managing Anxiety, Depression, and Cognitive Changes
  9. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Sleep Disturbances In Menopause
  10. Estrogen, Progesterone, and Testosterone: The Science of Hormones, Sexual Function, and Menopause
  11. FDA Approves Expanded Use of Flibanserin for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder In Women
  12. FDA Grand Rounds: FDA Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) Labeling: Historical Context & Recent Changes
  13. Find A Member [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  14. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  15. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  16. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
  17. Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women [2019]
  18. HRT Questions Answered
  19. Healthy Menopause: EMAS 2026 Framework for Precision, Digital, and Interdisciplinary Midlife Health
  20. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): A Summary
  21. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Benefits and Risks
  22. How Perimenopause Can Really Impact You and Your Partner
  23. Individualized TRT Demonstrates Broad Symptom Improvements Beyond Sexual Function [Testosterone Replacement Therapy]
  24. International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause
  25. International Society for Sexual Medicine: Sexual Health Topics
  26. International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health Clinical Practice Guideline for the Use of Systemic Testosterone for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder In Women
  27. International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health: Find A Provider
  28. Is Testosterone the Next Big Menopause Treatment—or Are the Claims Getting Ahead of the Science?
  29. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Supporting Someone Through the Menopause [+ Video: Men Don’t Need To Know About Menopause] [Other Languages and Formats]
  30. Looking After Yourself Around the Time of Menopause [Multiply Languages]
  31. Low Sex Drive In Women
  32. Low Testosterone In Women
  33. Low Testosterone Levels In Women Associated With Double the Risk of Cardiac Events
  34. Menopause
  35. Menopause
  36. Menopause Relief In the Spotlight Thanks To Monash University-Led Studies [Australia]
  37. Menopause and Sexuality
  38. Menopause: How To Talk To Your Doctor
  39. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
  40. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]Testosterone Therapy for Women
  41. Navigating Menopause Care Resource Guide
    Testosterone Therapy for Women
  42. No Evidence That Testosterone Improves Brain Fog During Menopause
  43. Non-Hormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
  44. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: IMS Partnership Symposia Series – Dyspareunia – Vaginal Atrophy and Beyond [Sign In To Confirm Your Age]
  45. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: IMS Partnership Symposia Series – Sex In Menopause: Medical Understanding and Therapies In Managing Sexual Dysfunction
  46. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: IMS Partnership Symposia Series – What Is Sleep, What Is Menopause and How Do They Interact?
  47. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2025: Lifestyle Medicine
  48. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars 2025 – The Burn, the Itch, the Pain, the Urge: GSM In Women
  49. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations – Midlife Body Changes
  50. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations: Sexuality and Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
  51. Perimenopause
  52. Perimenopause and Menopause Checklist: Translated Checklists
  53. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
    Testosterone Therapy for Women
  54. Postmenopause
  55. Prescribing of Testosterone for Middle-Aged Women ‘Out of Control’
  56. Professional Video and Podcast Series: 2025 Professional Videos and Podcasts – Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder HSDD—Open the Door To Discussion
    Sex and Sexual Health
  57. Quality Use of Medicines
  58. Questions About Testosterone? Watch This!
  59. Sexual Health
  60. Sexual Health, Libido, and Orgasm: What Medicine Missed With Dr. Kelly Casperson
  61. Sexual Health: In-Depth – Testosterone Therapy – Potential Benefits and Risks As You Age
  62. Should Women Get Treatment for Low Testosterone?
  63. Supplements: What Works, What Doesn’t and the Truth About Menowashing [08 June 2025]
  64. Talk About Painful Sex
  65. Talking Testosterone & Menopause With Prof. Susan Davis [Video]
  66. Testosterone | Dr Louise Newson
  67. Testosterone Gel vs. Pellets for Women: What New Research Says | Dr. Susan Hardwick-Smith
  68. Testosterone Levels Decline With Age, Not Menopause, Despite What You’ve Heard
  69. Testosterone Q&A | Dr Louise Newson
  70. Testosterone Replacement In Menopause
  71. Testosterone Sex & Libido With Sexual Health & BMS Accredited GP, Dr Angela Wright [Video]
  72. Testosterone Therapy
  73. Testosterone Therapy In Postmenopausal Women: Evidence, Efficacy, and Safety
    Testosterone Therapy
  74. Testosterone Therapy In Women: A Literature Review of Clinical Indications, Dosing, Routes of Administration, and Safety
  75. Testosterone Therapy for Female Sexual Dysfunction: A Systematic Review of the Literature Demonstrating Outcomes In Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women
  76. Testosterone Use In Menopausal Women
  77. Testosterone and Breaking the Stigma
  78. Testosterone and Why the UK Is Falling Behind
  79. Testosterone and the Hormone Triangle, With Dr Mohit Khera | The Dr Louise Newson Podcast
  80. Testosterone for Women
  81. Testosterone for Women: Benefits, Science & Live Q&A
  82. Testosterone for Women: When Dosing Is Right, You Have Options | Dr. Susan Hardwick-Smith
  83. Testosterone for Women? What the Expert Says
  84. Testosterone for Women | Confidence In Menopause
  85. Testosterone for Women: Benefits, Science & Live Q&A
  86. Testosterone: Beyond Libido | The Dr Louise Newson Podcast
  87. Testosterone: Strong Enough for a Man, But Made for A Woman
  88. Testosterone: Why Is It So Hard To Access?
  89. The Benefits of Testosterone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms
  90. The Menopause Society Show: Menopause & Sexual Desire
  91. The Real Danger To Women Isn’t Hormone Therapy, It’s Bad Science
  92. The Testosterone Conversation With Dr. Kelly Casperson: Beyond Libido
  93. We’ve Been Lied To About Testosterone
  94. What Can Affect Your Sex Life?
  95. What Is Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) In Women? What Causes It?
  96. What Testosterone Does for Women (And What It Doesn’t)
  97. What Women’s Health Providers Need To Know About Testosterone Therapy and Menopause
  98. What You Should Know About Female Testosterone With Dr. Lauren Streicher
  99. Women Are Turning To Testosterone, But What Does the Science Actually Say?
  100. World Menopause Day 2026: Resources – Infographic – Chronic Pain At Midlife [Multiply Languages]

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Menopause: Hormones and Menopause – Testosterone. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/ Accessed: 18 September 2026
  2. Glossary of Terms: Testosterone. Updated: April 2026. Australasian Menopause Society https://hub.menopause.org.au/Play?pId=b474d931-428c-4cf7-a80a-74ff4287b33d Accessed: 18 September 2026
  3. Testosterone Replacement In Menopause: Is Testosterone A Female Hormone? Reviewed: 26 May 2026:1. British Menopause Society https://thebms.org.uk/publications/tools-for-clinicians/testosterone-replacement-in-menopause/ Accessed: 18 September 2026
  4. Menopause: Hormones and Menopause – Testosterone. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/ Accessed: 18 September 2026
  5. Panay, N., et al. International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause: 20. Androgen Therapy. Published Online: 23 December 2025 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2025.2585487#abstract Accessed: 18 September 2026
  6. Davis, S. R., Baber, R., Panay, N., et al. 2019:4. Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/global-consensus-testosterone-english.pdf Accessed: 18 September 2026
  7. What Is Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) In Women? What Causes It? International Society for Sexual Medicine https://www.issm.info/sexual-health-qa/what-is-hypoactive-sexual-desire-disorder-hsdd-in-women-what-causes-it? Accessed: 18 September 2026
  8. Testosterone for Women: Why Use Testosterone? Reviewed: February 2026:1. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/testosterone-for-women/ Accessed: 18 September 2026
  9. Testosterone Replacement In Menopause: Is Testosterone A Female Hormone? Reviewed May 2026. British Menopause Society https://thebms.org.uk/publications/tools-for-clinicians/testosterone-replacement-in-menopause/ Accessed: 18 September 2026
  10. Testosterone for Women: How Is Testosterone Treatment Given? Reviewed: February 2026:2. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/testosterone-for-women/ Accessed: 18 September 2026
Topic Last Updated: 01 November 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 18 September 2026

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