Testosterone Implants in Women: Pharmacological Dosing for a Physiologic Effect

The study investigated the effects of subcutaneous testosterone implants in women, involving 154 pre- and post-menopausal women in Group 1, 12 postmenopausal women in Group 2, and a single patient in Group 3. It found that testosterone levels at week 4 post-implantation were significantly higher than natural levels, with considerable individual variance. When symptoms returned, levels were lower but still above natural levels. The study concluded that pharmacological dosing of testosterone implants is necessary to achieve physiological effects in women, and treatment should be based on safety, tolerability, and clinical response rather than a single testosterone measurement due to its variability. The study also noted that testosterone therapy increased scalp hair growth without causing androgenic alopecia and was generally well-tolerated, with over 16,000 implant procedures performed safely.