In September 2026 the FDA held its first public workshop on testosterone use in menopausal women, asking how the hormone might help and how it can be used safely. While testosterone is not yet FDA‑approved for women, doctors are prescribing it off‑label, with prescriptions to women nearly tripling from 2016 to 2025.
What the data show
Hone Health, a physician‑led longevity platform, examined symptom changes in 1,220 women who were taking testosterone but not estrogen, progesterone or other hormone‑therapy drugs. Patients completed the Menopause Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL), a standard tool that scores symptoms from 0 (no bother) to 6 (most severe). Comparing each woman’s first assessment with her most recent one, the analysis found the greatest gains in three areas:
- Sexual health – women reported higher desire and satisfaction.
- Energy and stamina – participants noted feeling more vigorous and less fatigued.
- Physical strength – many saw increases in lean muscle mass and overall strength.
These findings line up with the FDA workshop experts’ view that the strongest evidence for testosterone in women is its effect on low sexual desire, known medically as hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). Benefits for mood, memory and broader energy levels still require more study.
Doctor perspective
Dr. Natalie Kunsman, a family physician affiliated with Hone Health who specializes in hormone health and regenerative medicine, said, “Much of this doesn’t surprise me because it lines up with what we know testosterone is doing in the body. Tracking specific symptoms is like looking through a keyhole when we know testosterone is working the whole room.” She explained that testosterone receptors are present throughout the brain, muscles, bones and cardiovascular system, so the hormone can influence many bodily functions.
According to Dr. Kunsman, testosterone may help in several specific ways:
- Lean muscle mass – testosterone supports the maintenance of muscle, which can reduce frailty and improve metabolic health.
- Metabolic health – low testosterone is linked to higher body fat after menopause; optimizing levels may protect against muscle loss when patients use weight‑loss drugs such as GLP‑1 agonists.
- Bone density – the hormone promotes bone formation and can convert to estradiol, helping to slow bone loss and lower fracture risk.
- Brain function – a 2025 pilot study cited by Dr. Kunsman found 47% of women on testosterone reported better mood and 39% reported sharper thinking after four months.
- Cardiovascular health – early data suggest testosterone may improve blood‑vessel function and modestly lower blood pressure.
- Inflammation – by reducing excess body fat, testosterone may help lower chronic low‑grade inflammation.
Questions to discuss with your doctor
Women who experience low sexual desire, persistent fatigue, loss of strength or unwanted weight gain during perimenopause or postmenopause may consider asking their physician about low‑dose testosterone. Helpful questions include:
- Am I a candidate for low‑dose testosterone?
- Do I need a blood test to confirm low testosterone?
- What formulation would you prescribe (cream, patch, injection) and why?
- What testosterone range is optimal for my age?
- How will we monitor levels and adjust the dose over time?
If a primary care physician is hesitant, telehealth services that partner with licensed doctors can provide hormone assessments, lab work and ongoing follow‑up.
Study limitations
The Hone Health analysis is observational and lacks a randomized control group, so it shows association rather than definitive cause‑and‑effect. Prescription data reflect only what was recorded in Hone’s system; some patients may have received hormones elsewhere.
Nevertheless, the findings add to a growing body of evidence that testosterone, when dosed physiologically for women, may play a valuable role alongside estrogen and progesterone in managing menopausal symptoms.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
