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Testosterone in Women: Clinical Evidence and Practice Guidelines
Jennifer Lanoff1, James A Simon2
1Washington Women's Health and Complex Gynecology, 5225 Wisconsin Avenue NW #513, Washington, DC 20015, USA.
Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America
|July 27, 2026
Summary
Testosterone therapy shows cardiovascular safety and potential benefits for postmenopausal women beyond sexual desire, including improved genitourinary health. Long-term safety is still under investigation, but serious adverse events are rare within normal ranges.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Women's Health
- Cardiovascular Science
Background:
- Testosterone therapy is primarily indicated for low sexual desire in postmenopausal women.
- Emerging research explores broader physiological effects of testosterone in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cardiovascular safety and potential non-sexual benefits of testosterone therapy in postmenopausal women.
- To assess testosterone's impact on sexual function, genitourinary health, and tissue integrity.
Main Methods:
- Review of current evidence regarding testosterone therapy in postmenopausal women.
- Analysis of studies investigating cardiovascular effects and other physiological impacts.
Main Results:
- Testosterone therapy demonstrates cardiovascular safety with potential protective vascular effects.
- Evidence suggests improvements in sexual function, genitourinary health, lubrication, and tissue integrity.
- Long-term safety data are limited, but adverse events are infrequent within normal female ranges.
Conclusions:
- Testosterone therapy may offer benefits beyond sexual desire for postmenopausal women.
- Emerging applications require further research and are currently hypothesis-generating.
- Current evidence does not support guideline changes for broader clinical use of testosterone therapy.
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