Social media influencers are prompting women to consider that they might have a low testosterone problem, sparking concern among their followers. As telemedicine expands and more testosterone clinics open across the US and other parts of the world, access to this hormone has become increasingly convenient.
In the United States, prescriptions for testosterone surged nearly 50% from 2013 to 2023, according to recent data from health research firm IQVIA. Interest in this hormone is not limited to men; a growing number of women in their 40s and 50s are also seeking it out.
Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su, chief medical officer at Gennev, a telemedicine service for menopause care, says middle-aged women are turning to testosterone in large numbers.
“They’re being told this is the miracle-drug pill that they’ve been looking for,” she said.
Dr. Dunsmoor-Su noted that many women are being prescribed testosterone through gels, pellets, or pills offered by med-spas and telemedicine services. This trend suggests that the number of women using the hormone may be even higher than current estimates indicate.
Males have 15 times higher testosterone levels
Testosterone, mainly known as the male sex hormone, serves important functions in the body. In men, it supports muscle growth, drives sexual interest, and contributes to a deeper voice. Women also produce testosterone, though in much smaller amounts, where it plays a role in sexual desire, muscle strength, and energy levels.
Men’s testosterone levels are typically about 15 times higher than women’s. For both genders, levels of testosterone gradually decrease with age—usually starting around age 30 in men and around 40 in women. However, this natural decline doesn’t always mean that testosterone needs to be replaced to maintain health or increase lifespan.
What counts as a “normal” testosterone level can vary depending on the lab measuring it. Low levels don’t automatically mean a person should begin hormone treatment. Doctors consider both symptoms and blood test results to decide if testosterone therapy is appropriate.
FDA has not approved testosterone therapy for women
When patients show symptoms of “low testosterone,” such as depression, fatigue, and reduced sexual interest, doctors often check testosterone levels with a blood test before recommending treatment.
Treatment options for testosterone include a gel applied to the shoulder, oral pills, or a pellet implanted under the skin in the buttocks.
Dr. Amy Voedisch, an OB-GYN at Stanford Medicine in Palo Alto, California, has noticed a sharp increase in middle-aged women seeking testosterone therapy.
For many women, symptoms of perimenopause begin in their 40s, years before menopause officially starts. As they age, declining estrogen and testosterone can also lead to a reduced sex drive.
“I’ll talk about menopausal hormone therapy and then they’ll say — but what about testosterone?”
Topical testosterone products entered the market in the early 2000s, adding new options for those exploring hormone therapy.
The FDA has not given approval for testosterone therapy use in women. Still, doctors may prescribe it for women with low sexual drive, but only if other possible medical or psychological causes are ruled out, according to Dr. Jan Shifren, director of the Midlife Women’s Health Center at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Dr. Shifren, who has conducted research on testosterone therapy in women, points out that the effects for women with reduced libido tend to be minimal.
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