Safety of testosterone treatment in postmenopausal women

The document from 2007 reviewed the safety of testosterone (T) therapy in postmenopausal women, examining various health aspects. It found that most prospective studies were short-term and often combined T with other hormones, which complicated results interpretation. Main side effects included androgenic effects like hirsutism and acne, with no significant increase in cardiovascular risk factors, except for a decrease in HDL cholesterol with oral T. Data suggested a neutral or beneficial effect on breast cancer risk and no increased risk of hepatotoxicity, neurobehavioral abnormalities, sleep apnea, or fetal virilization with physiological T doses. The conclusion was that T therapy appears safe for up to several years at physiological doses, but long-term safety studies are needed.