TLDR Testosterone therapy may slightly increase sexual desire in women with HSDD but lacks broad recommendation due to safety concerns and limited approval.
In 2018, the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism conducted a review involving nine experts on the use of testosterone therapy for women with low sexual desire, particularly postmenopausal women. The review found that testosterone had a small positive effect on sexual desire in women with sexual dysfunction, but due to a lack of long-term safety data and insufficient evidence, a broad recommendation for testosterone therapy could not be made. The review also noted that no testosterone formulations were approved for women by regulatory agencies in the United States, Brazil, and most other countries. The society suggested that testosterone therapy could be considered for women diagnosed with Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD), based on a systematic review of seven randomized trials involving over 3,000 women. However, the therapy was associated with increased acne and hair growth. The document also highlighted potential risks of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease, and noted that prolonged administration of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) could potentially lead to hair loss (alopecia), menstrual irregularities, and infertility.
75 citations,
February 2016 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” Androgens play a role in female sexual function, and testosterone therapy can help women with low sexual desire, but more research is needed on treatments and long-term safety.
251 citations,
October 2014 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” The guidelines advise against using testosterone and DHEA in women for most conditions due to safety and effectiveness concerns, but suggest considering testosterone for postmenopausal women with low sexual desire.
254 citations,
September 2014 in “Menopause” The NAMS 2014 recommendations guide healthcare providers on treating health issues in midlife women, emphasizing individualized care and informed decision-making.
9 citations,
June 2002 in “Best Practice & Research in Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology” Testosterone therapy can help women with androgen deficiency by improving energy, sex drive, and bone health with few side effects.
6 citations,
September 2005 in “Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy” Androgen therapy can help with symptoms like low libido in women, but more research is needed to understand its long-term safety and effects on health.
February 2023 in “IntechOpen eBooks” Testosterone replacement therapy helps manage deficiency and has various methods, but requires careful monitoring to avoid side effects.
7 citations,
April 2012 in “Clinical investigation” Transdermal testosterone can improve sexual desire in postmenopausal women but lacks long-term safety data and is not FDA-approved for this use.
403 citations,
November 2005 in “Journal of Endocrinology” Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a prohormone important for producing sex steroids and has potential health benefits.
22 citations,
January 2015 in “The Cochrane library” DHEA may help with sexual function when used intravaginally by menopausal women but is similar to hormone therapy in other aspects and might cause more side effects like acne and hair loss.
