Short answer
For one problem, the evidence says yes. The 2019 Global Consensus Position Statement says the only evidence-based use of testosterone for women is low sexual desire that causes distress (HSDD) after menopause, with a moderate benefit. No testosterone product is FDA-approved for women in the US, so prescriptions are off-label, and long-term safety has not been established.
What the consensus statement says
In 2019, a task force from leading medical societies published a Global Consensus Position Statement on testosterone for women. It was endorsed by The North American Menopause Society, now The Menopause Society, along with The Endocrine Society and others.
Its central finding: the only evidence-based indication is postmenopausal women diagnosed with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) after a full biopsychosocial assessment. There are insufficient data for any other symptom or for disease prevention. Available data show no effect on general wellbeing, and no significant effect at physiologic doses on lean body mass, body fat or muscle strength.
How big the effect is
The statement rests on a 2019 meta-analysis of 36 randomized trials with 8,480 participants. In postmenopausal women, testosterone improved sexual desire, arousal, orgasm and pleasure, and reduced sexual distress, compared with placebo or a comparator.
In practical terms, the statement puts the gain at an average of one extra satisfying sexual event per month above placebo, and calls the effect moderate. It also says that if there is no benefit by 6 months, treatment should be stopped. A blood testosterone level should not be used to diagnose HSDD.
Safety limits
At doses that keep levels in the premenopausal range, the statement links testosterone with mild increases in acne and body or facial hair in some women, but not hair loss, clitoral enlargement or voice change. Oral testosterone is not recommended because of adverse effects on cholesterol.
The trials excluded women at high heart and metabolic risk, and women with a prior breast cancer diagnosis. Safety data do not extend beyond 24 months. The panel recommended against compounded testosterone, and against pellets and injections that push levels above the normal female range.
Where the FDA stands in October 2026
A 2021 clinical practice guideline from the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health states that government-approved testosterone products for HSDD in women are not available in the United States. Testosterone gel approved for men is labeled as not indicated for use in women.
On 17 September 2026, the FDA held a public workshop on testosterone in menopausal women, citing growing off-label use and gaps in long-term safety data. Its public comment docket is open until 19 October 2026. Separately, a December 2025 label update lists the pill flibanserin for acquired, generalized HSDD in women under 65. Talk to your prescriber about any of these.
Related questions
Does testosterone help energy, mood or muscle?
The 2019 consensus statement found no effect on general wellbeing or depressed mood, and no significant effect on lean body mass or muscle strength at physiologic doses. The FDA's 2026 workshop listed mood and musculoskeletal health among open questions.
Should I get my testosterone level tested to see if it is low?
The consensus statement says no blood level cutoff separates women with and without sexual dysfunction, and a total testosterone level should not be used to diagnose HSDD. It recommends a baseline level only if treatment is started.
Can I use a compounded testosterone cream?
Compounded products are not FDA-approved. The 2019 consensus statement says compounded testosterone cannot be recommended for HSDD because of a lack of evidence for efficacy and safety.
Read next
Sources
- Davis et al., Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism: Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women (2019)
- Islam et al., Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology: Safety and efficacy of testosterone for women, a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trial data (2019)
- Parish et al., Journal of Women's Health: ISSWSH Clinical Practice Guideline for the Use of Systemic Testosterone for HSDD in Women (2021)
- FDA bulletin, 18 Aug 2026: FDA Public Workshop, Testosterone Use in Menopausal Women (17 Sep 2026)
- DailyMed (NIH): flibanserin tablets prescribing information (revised December 2025)
Published 2026-10-07 · Last checked 2026-10-07
Educational content, not medical advice. Made for the United States.