Testosterone for Women: What Does It Do and Why Is the FDA Talking About It?
For years, conversations about women’s hormones have mostly centered around estrogen and progesterone.
But there’s another hormone getting a lot more attention: testosterone.
Yes, women have testosterone too.
And today, September 17, 2026, the FDA is holding a public workshop specifically focused on testosterone use in menopausal women. The goal is to examine what current research tells us, where important questions remain, and what additional research and drug development may be needed.
So what does testosterone actually do in women? Why might testosterone therapy be discussed during perimenopause or menopause? And is testosterone for women FDA-approved?
Here’s what women should know.
Do Women Have Testosterone?
Yes. Testosterone is not just a male hormone.
Women naturally produce testosterone, although at much lower levels than men. Like estrogen and progesterone, testosterone levels can change throughout life.
During menopause, ovarian hormone production declines, including testosterone. That is one reason researchers and healthcare providers continue to study the role testosterone may play in women’s health during and after the menopause transition.
What Does Testosterone Do for Women?
Testosterone is involved in several functions in the female body.
Current research has explored its relationship with sexual function as well as possible roles in cognition, mood and musculoskeletal health. However, it is important to distinguish areas where evidence supports a clinical use from areas that are still being investigated.
One of the better-supported uses is sexual health. The Menopause Society notes that evidence suggests testosterone may help with low sexual desire in some perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.
That does not mean testosterone is a treatment for every symptom associated with perimenopause or menopause.
Why Is the FDA Talking About Testosterone for Women Now?
On September 17, 2026, the FDA Office of Women’s Health and Center for Drug Evaluation and Research are holding a public workshop devoted to testosterone use in menopausal women.
The FDA says testosterone is increasingly being used off-label in menopausal women while significant questions remain.
The workshop is examining several areas, including:
- sexual function
- cognition and mood
- musculoskeletal health
- how testosterone levels are measured and interpreted in women
- appropriate research and drug development
- long-term cardiovascular and breast safety
The FDA is also accepting public comments on the risks and benefits of testosterone use in menopausal women through October 19, 2026.
This doesn’t mean the FDA has reached a new conclusion about testosterone therapy for women.
It means women’s testosterone therapy is getting a closer scientific look.
Is Testosterone FDA-Approved for Women?
Currently, there is no FDA-approved testosterone formulation specifically for managing menopausal symptoms in women.
Testosterone products are FDA-approved for certain uses in men, but prescribing testosterone to women is different.
ACOG recommends shared decision-making when testosterone therapy is being considered and emphasizes that women should understand the potential benefits, risks, and limitations of the available evidence.
That distinction is especially important right now.
Today’s FDA meeting is a scientific workshop. It is not an announcement that the FDA has approved testosterone for menopausal women.
Can Testosterone Help With Low Libido in Women?
This is one of the most important areas of testosterone research in women.
There is evidence that testosterone therapy may improve low sexual desire in some appropriately evaluated perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.
But low libido can have many possible causes.
Hormones may be part of the picture, but so can medications, vaginal discomfort, sleep, stress, relationship factors, mental health and other medical conditions.
That’s why treatment should start with understanding what is happening rather than assuming testosterone is automatically the answer.
Can Testosterone Help With Energy, Brain Fog or Mood?
This is where social media can get ahead of the science.
The FDA specifically identifies cognition and mood as areas where important knowledge gaps remain.
The Menopause Society has also cautioned against presenting testosterone as a treatment for mood changes, brain fog, general well-being, osteoporosis, sarcopenia or other age-related conditions based on current evidence.
That doesn’t mean testosterone has no biological relationship to these areas.
It means there isn’t enough evidence to turn every possible association into a treatment claim.
And that’s exactly why today’s FDA conversation matters.
What Are the Potential Side Effects of Testosterone Therapy in Women?
Testosterone therapy isn’t risk-free.
Potential androgenic side effects can include acne and increased facial or body hair. ACOG also notes that some androgenic effects can be more significant and potentially irreversible.
There are also unanswered questions about long-term cardiovascular and breast safety, which the FDA specifically identifies as an area requiring additional research.
This is another reason testosterone treatment should involve individualized medical evaluation and ongoing follow-up rather than being treated like a general wellness supplement.
Is Testosterone Part of HRT for Women?
It can be discussed as part of hormone care for some women, but testosterone is not automatically part of hormone replacement therapy.
Menopausal hormone therapy most commonly involves estrogen, with a progestogen generally needed when systemic estrogen is used in someone who still has a uterus.
Whether any additional hormone therapy is appropriate depends on the individual woman’s symptoms, medical history, risks, goals and clinical evaluation.
At The Pip Rx, we don’t believe every woman needs the same hormone protocol.
Personalized hormone care should actually be personal.
Do I Need a Testosterone Test?
A testosterone level by itself doesn’t explain every symptom a woman may be experiencing.
Testing and interpretation can also be more complicated in women because testosterone concentrations are much lower than they are in men. The FDA specifically identified the measurement and interpretation of testosterone levels as one of the challenges being discussed at today’s workshop.
ACOG also notes that some commonly used testosterone assays can be unreliable in the female range.
Your symptoms, health history, medications and overall clinical picture matter too.
Should I Consider Testosterone During Perimenopause or Menopause?
That’s a conversation to have with a qualified healthcare provider.
Testosterone may be appropriate to discuss for certain women, particularly in the context of sexual health, but it isn’t a universal treatment for perimenopause, menopause, fatigue, weight gain or healthy aging.
The better question isn’t:
“Should every woman be taking testosterone?”
It’s:
“Could testosterone be relevant to what I’m experiencing, and what does the evidence actually support?”
That’s a much better place to start.
Testosterone Therapy for Women in Overland Park
At The Pip Rx in Overland Park, Kansas, we provide personalized hormone care for women and men.
For women navigating perimenopause and menopause, that means looking beyond a single symptom or lab value. We consider what you’re experiencing, your medical history, your goals and the available evidence before discussing which treatment options may be appropriate.
Sometimes hormones are part of that conversation.
Sometimes they aren’t.
The goal isn’t to put every woman on the same hormone plan.
It’s to help you understand what’s happening in your body and make informed decisions about what comes next.
Wondering If Your Hormones Could Be Part of the Story?
You don’t have to wait until your periods stop or your symptoms become unbearable to start asking questions.
Schedule a hormone consultation with The Pip Rx in Overland Park and let’s start with a conversation.
About the Author
Christina is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with more than 12 years of experience and a special interest in hormone therapy, perimenopause and menopause care, testosterone health, medical weight management, and healthy aging.
Her approach is personal, evidence-informed, and never one-size-fits-all. Christina takes the time to understand your symptoms, health history, and goals before discussing whether hormone therapy may be right for you.
Because your hormones are personal. Your care should be too.
