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January 28, 2026
The quintessentially male hormone, testosterone, has been in the spotlight of women’s interest for months. Is it the missing piece of hormone therapy in menopause?
From a female perspective, testosterone has long remained in the deep shadow of estrogen and progesterone. Until now. Whether you turn to Instagram or TikTok, chances are you’ll come across at least one testimonial from a menopausal influencer claiming that testosterone therapy changed her life for the better. Sexual desire awakens, mental sharpness returns, energy levels rise… Is testosterone really our new magic wand?
The sudden return of this long-overlooked hormone to the spotlight is no coincidence. Broadly speaking, we are witnessing a rebranding of hormone therapy, after several years spent in a (largely) unfounded fear of hormones. New studies have brought greater clarity to questions surrounding this type of therapy and have led to very precise recommendations on how, how much, and in what way progesterone and estrogen should be used during menopause. And right at that moment, one sex hormone produced by women—yet consistently overlooked—came into focus: testosterone.
Still, testosterone therapy likely would not have reached this level of popularity had women not become aware that menopause does not have to be the end, and that they do not have to suffer or simply endure. In the 21st century, it is perfectly reasonable to seek medical ways to alleviate symptoms. After hot flashes, insomnia, and forgetfulness, women began to focus on less visible menopausal symptoms as well: low sexual desire, loss of muscle mass, drops in energy and motivation. Gen X women and older millennials who no longer feel as vital as they once did due to menopause started searching for solutions.
At the same time, the rise in popularity of GLP-1 weight-loss medications (Ozempic foremost among them) brought the issue of muscle loss into sharper focus. Because of its properties, testosterone emerged as a potential answer to many of these concerns.
And just like that, we became witnesses to influencer confessions about how testosterone therapy during menopause transformed their lives for the better. Still, it’s important to be clear: these experiences do not carry the weight of rigorous scientific research. So what does science say?
When we hear the word testosterone, we instinctively think of men. It is indeed the primary male sex hormone—but it is also important for women. Testosterone contributes to libido, sexual arousal, and orgasm by increasing dopamine levels in the central nervous system. At the same time, it plays a role in normal metabolic function, muscle and bone strength, mood, and cognitive function.
Healthy young premenopausal women naturally produce 200–250 micrograms of testosterone per day. Over time, these levels begin to decline—by about 25 percent by the age of 40, and then by an additional 10 to 20 percent with each subsequent decade. Testosterone levels in women typically stabilize around the age of 55. Some women may not notice this gradual decline at all, while others experience pronounced changes. The first among them? Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). This is currently the only condition in women for which testosterone therapy is commonly used—at least outside Serbia.
Although testosterone is clearly more than significant for women, there is a striking lack of scientific research on its effects, as well as on the consequences of testosterone deficiency and replacement in women. As a result, testosterone therapy during menopause can feel like the Wild West—every woman for herself. Moreover, in most markets there are no products specifically designed for women, forcing them to use products intended for men, merely in lower doses.
In other words, when it comes to testosterone therapy, women are often left to navigate on their own, as there is no unified consensus even within the medical community. It’s therefore no surprise that women have turned to social media and begun seeking advice from one another.
The only clearly evidence-based indication for testosterone therapy in menopausal women is the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). This diagnosis is made only after a full biopsychosocial assessment has been conducted and other potential causes have been ruled out. Even then, doses must fall within ranges recommended for women, the patient must be monitored by a physician during the first six months of therapy, and particular attention must be paid to possible androgenic side effects (such as excess hair growth and acne).
The medical community emphasizes that there is no scientific evidence supporting the use of testosterone to achieve:
increased energy, mental sharpness, or improved mood
enhanced cognition
better cardiovascular or metabolic health
improved bone health
overall well-being
In short, testosterone has not yet been accepted as a standard therapy during menopause—and for good reason: the lack of robust scientific research. Still, it is a hormone worth keeping in focus, as emerging evidence may well influence how we understand and approach hormone therapy in the future.
Photo: Pexels.com
