As women move through perimenopause into menopause, many experience a decline in hormones – not only oestrogen and progesterone, but also androgens such as testosterone.
While testosterone is often thought of as a ‘male’ hormone, it plays vital roles throughout a woman’s life. In this post, we explore the benefits of testosterone for women, key considerations, and how The Menopause Clinic helps you navigate whether it’s right for you.
What Does Testosterone Do in Women?
Testosterone is produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands. As women age, particularly during menopause, testosterone levels naturally drop. This can contribute to various symptoms such as:
- Reduced libido (low sexual desire) and diminished sexual enjoyment.
- Fatigue, low energy and general tiredness.
- Mood changes, irritability, anxiety or low wellbeing.
- Decline in muscle mass and strength; reduction in bone density (which may increase risk of osteoporosis) if low androgen levels persist.
- Some women report cognitive symptoms such as brain fog, reduced concentration or memory.
What Are the Potential Benefits of Testosterone Therapy?
When prescribed carefully and monitored by menopause specialists, testosterone may offer several benefits, particularly when HRT (hormone replacement therapy) alone has not addressed certain symptoms. Key benefits include:
- Boosted sexual desire and improved sexual function – Testosterone is most strongly supported, in both research and clinical guidelines (e.g. British Menopause Society, NICE), for improving libido or sexual desire in post-menopausal women or those whose low desire persists despite HRT.
- Better energy, mood, and general wellbeing – Some women report improvements in mood stability, reduced irritability, better motivation, and overall sense of vitality.
- Support for muscle and bone health – Testosterone contributes to maintaining lean muscle mass and bone density, helping to reduce risk of frailty and osteoporosis.
Improved cognitive function – Though research is still developing, there is anecdotal and some clinical trial data suggesting enhanced cognitive clarity, memory and focus.
What Are the Risks and Important Considerations?
While many women benefit, testosterone therapy isn’t suitable for everyone and must be approached carefully:
- Regulatory / licensing status – in the UK testosterone for women is often ‘off-label’ (not licensed for some indications), meaning dosing, monitoring and prescription require specialist oversight.
- Side effects may include acne, oily skin, increased facial / body hair (hirsutism), voice changes, and other androgenic effects. These are typically dose-dependent and are minimised by using physiological (low) doses and careful monitoring.
- Long-term data is limited: there is less evidence on outcomes over many years regarding cardiovascular risk, breast cancer risk, or other potential adverse events. Specialists balance potential benefits with these unknowns.
- Not a first-line for every symptom: Guidelines typically recommend considering testosterone only after ruling out other causes (psychological, relationship, medication-related) and when HRT plus lifestyle changes haven’t sufficiently resolved symptoms.
How The Menopause Clinic Can Help
At The Menopause Clinic, we offer expert, patient-centred assessment for testosterone therapy as part of menopause management. Here’s how we support you:
- Thorough consultation and testing: We assess symptoms, medical history, conduct blood tests to establish baseline hormone levels, plus relevant screening (e.g. for bone density if needed).
- Tailored treatment plans: If testosterone is appropriate, we prescribe in low, physiologic doses, choosing forms that work best for you (creams or gels where possible) and monitoring for both benefit and side effects.
- Combination with HRT where needed: If HRT hasn’t fully addressed symptoms such as low libido, testosterone can be considered as an adjunct under specialist care.
- Ongoing follow-up and safety: We follow guidelines (such as British Menopause Society recommendations) for monitoring, adjusting dosage, and ensuring treatment remains safe and effective.
- Education & support: We ensure you understand what testosterone can and cannot do, realistic expectations, timelines (often 3-6 months for full effects) and when to re-assess.
Who Might Benefit Most?
You might consider discussing testosterone therapy with your menopause specialist if you are:
- Post-menopausal or peri-menopausal and continue to experience low sexual desire despite HRT.
- Experiencing persistent fatigue, low mood, reduced wellbeing or muscle weakness not explained by other causes.
- Not contraindicated for testosterone (i.e. no serious liver disease, certain hormone-sensitive conditions, or other health risks).
Final Thoughts
Testosterone therapy offers real potential benefits for women, especially in relation to sexual wellness, energy, mood, muscle and bone health. But it’s not a universal solution and should always be managed by experienced menopause specialists.