Testosterone therapy for women, when it is clinically appropriate
Testosterone is often marketed as a cure-all for energy and weight. The evidence is narrower, and more honest care starts there.
What the evidence supports
The 2019 Global Consensus Position Statement on testosterone therapy for women, endorsed by The Menopause Society and the Endocrine Society, found that testosterone may help postmenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (distressing low sexual desire). There is not enough evidence to recommend it for energy, mood, bone health or weight.
How we approach it
Low libido has many contributors: sleep, stress, relationship factors, vaginal discomfort, medications and estrogen levels. Those are addressed first. When testosterone is a reasonable option, it is dosed to stay within the normal female range, baseline and follow-up levels are checked, and you are monitored for side effects such as acne or unwanted hair growth.
Reviewed by Stacy Silverman, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC. Virtual care for patients located in Illinois. Educational information only; not a substitute for an individual medical evaluation.
Start with a conversation, not a commitment.
The $49 Hormone Clarity Session is a private 30-minute virtual visit with Stacy to review your symptoms and map a personal next step. It is an introductory educational and assessment service and does not guarantee a diagnosis, prescription, or hormone therapy eligibility.