What Is Testosterone Therapy for Women, and What Are the Benefits?

Q: What are the benefits?

Better sexual desire, arousal and satisfaction, and less distress about your sex life. Benefits are specific to sexual function.

What Is Testosterone Therapy for Women, and What Are the Benefits?

Testosterone therapy for women is low-dose testosterone (about a tenth of a typical male dose) prescribed for persistently low sexual desire in postmenopausal women that is bothersome and not better explained by something else, like a relationship issue, depression or a medication side effect. It’s the one use of testosterone in women backed by strong research, laid out in a 2019 international consensus statement from the leading societies in the field.

The main benefit is improved sexual desire, arousal and satisfaction. On average, women using the right dose report about one more satisfying sexual event per month compared with placebo, along with better arousal, orgasm and less distress about their sex life. For some women that’s a meaningful change; for others it may feel modest.

Is It FDA-Approved?

Not yet as a standalone product — and that’s a regulatory gap, not a sign the treatment doesn’t work. In the early 2000s the FDA reviewed testosterone products developed specifically for women and asked for more long-term safety data before approving one; no manufacturer has since brought a new application forward, largely because the patient population is small. In practice, that simply means treatment uses male-labeled products at a much lower dose, or a compounded preparation made specifically for you — both standard, physician-directed approaches, and consistent with the broader shift toward more individualized, evidence-based hormone care that’s reshaped women’s hormone therapy over the past year.

Risks and Monitoring

At the right dose, side effects are usually mild — and staying within the normal female range is what keeps it that way. A baseline testosterone level is drawn before you start, then rechecked after you begin and after any dose change, to confirm levels are in range and that your symptoms are actually improving. If a pellet is the delivery method, Dr. Temkin measures levels before insertion and again during the cycle, so the next dose is set from your data.

About Dr. Michael Temkin, DO

Dr. Michael Temkin, DO has practiced internal medicine in San Ramon for 25 years and is a Certified BioTE Provider. He evaluates low desire as part of a full picture — checking thyroid function, mood and other possible causes before starting testosterone — and monitors levels closely once treatment begins, in the same concierge setting he uses for every hormone patient: unhurried visits, direct access between appointments, and one physician following your labs from baseline through every adjustment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can women take testosterone?

Yes — for postmenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder, using a dose that approximates normal premenopausal levels.

Does testosterone help with energy, mood, or weight?

The benefit that’s actually been shown is for sexual desire and function. Fatigue, low mood and weight changes in midlife more often trace back to thyroid issues, poor sleep or estrogen decline, which is why a full evaluation matters.

Is it safe long term?

Long-term data is still limited. That’s why Dr. Temkin reviews treatment periodically and rechecks levels regularly rather than treating it as a set-and-forget prescription.

Talk to Dr. Temkin About Hormone Therapy for Women

If low desire is the symptom that concerns you most, it’s worth an evaluation that also looks at what else might be contributing. Call Temkin Health at (925) 866-3900 or request a consultation online.

About Temkin Health

Temkin Health is a concierge internal medicine practice at 1081 Market Place, Suite 300, San Ramon, CA 94583, led by Dr. Michael Temkin, DO, who has been in private practice in San Ramon for 25 years. The practice offers concierge primary care, the LeanMD medical weight loss program, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for men and women, and longevity medicine. Dr. Temkin is a Certified BioTE Provider. Phone: (925) 866-3900.

Sources

Davis SR, et al. Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2019. https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/104/10/4660/5556103
Endocrine Society. Coalition issues international consensus on testosterone treatment for women. 2019. https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/2019/coalition-issues-international-consensus-on-testosterone-treatment-for-women
Cedars-Sinai. Testosterone Therapy for Women. https://www.cedars-sinai.org/stories-and-insights/expert-advice/testosterone-therapy-for-women
Trials and tribulations of testosterone therapy in women: Importance of adhering to the evidence. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, 2021. https://www.ccjm.org/content/88/1/44
The 2022 hormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause, 2022. https://journals.lww.com/menopausejournal/fulltext/2022/07000/the_2022_hormone_therapy_position_statement_of_the.4.aspx

Disclaimer

This article provides general health information and is not medical advice for any specific situation. Reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Hormone therapy is a prescription treatment with risks as well as benefits, and suitability is determined at a medical consultation with a licensed clinician. Results vary between individuals; every figure cited describes findings in studied populations rather than a predicted individual outcome. Compounded preparations, including compounded pellets, are not FDA-approved, which means the FDA does not evaluate them for safety, effectiveness or quality. Consult a licensed healthcare provider to discuss all treatment options, including potential risks and benefits.

Last updated September 2026.