Can testosterone help with menopause?

What happens to testosterone levels during menopause?

Testosterone is a hormone that everyone produces in their bodies. As we get older, we start to produce less. If you go through the menopause, either naturally or after having your ovaries removed, your testosterone levels will reduce. These changes to our hormones can have a big impact on how you feel.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and testosterone are hormonal treatments for menopause. They work by replacing the hormone levels that have fallen in your body.

What are the symptoms of low testosterone in menopause?

Low testosterone during menopause can cause:

• low sex drive (reduced libido)
• tiredness
• difficulty concentrating
• reduced muscle strength

Transgender men and non-binary people may also experience menopause symptoms.

Lower sex drive may not always be caused by low testosterone levels. Changes in your relationship, other health problems and depression can all affect how you feel about sex.

If you’re going through the menopause and any of these symptoms are affecting your day-to-day life, speak to your doctor.

How can I increase my testosterone during menopause?

Your doctor may prescribe testosterone gel or cream that you rub onto your skin to increase your levels.

It can take up to six months to feel the full effects of testosterone. But you might start to feel some benefits after a few weeks. If you have any questions, speak to your pharmacist or doctor for advice.

Should I take testosterone for menopause?

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with oestrogen (often with progesterone too) usually treats all symptoms of the menopause. But if you still have symptoms such as low libido, your doctor might suggest trying testosterone alongside HRT.

Some people can’t take testosterone. If you’ve had hormone sensitive breast cancer in the past or have active liver disease, testosterone might not be right for you.

At the moment, testosterone isn’t licenced to treat menopause symptoms. That means it’s called an ‘off-label’ medicine for menopause. Some medicines can be prescribed to be used ‘off-label’ to treat a different condition that they were first approved for. Because of this, you might need to see a specialist to have it prescribed.

What are the side effects of taking testosterone?

Testosterone can cause some side effects, although not everyone gets them. These may include:

• increased facial or body hair
• acne (spots)
• thinning of hair on scalp
• a deeper voice
• enlargement of the clitoris

If the dose is too high, side effects are more likely. Most side effects will improve or go away if the dose is reduced or treatment is stopped. But some, such as deeper voice, increased body hair, or clitoral enlargement may be long lasting or permanent.

If you take testosterone, you’ll usually have a blood test after two or three months. This is to check you’re not getting too much testosterone. You might need another blood test after six months. After this, you’ll usually need a blood test once or twice a year to check your testosterone is still at the right level.

For more information on whether testosterone might help your symptoms, speak to your doctor.