Can women take testosterone?
Yes — testosterone is a normal female hormone and is included in many BHRT pathways for libido, energy, mood, and lean-mass support when biomarkers and symptoms indicate. Dosing is a fraction of male physiologic dosing and is always provider-reviewed against the standardized biomarker panel and cycle/menopausal context.
Full answer
Testosterone is produced in the female body throughout life — by the ovaries and adrenals — and contributes to libido, mood, cognition, energy, and lean-mass maintenance. In BHRT pathways, low-dose bioidentical testosterone is added when the biomarker panel and symptom profile indicate, typically in perimenopause, menopause, or surgical menopause, and in select premenopausal contexts. Dosing is a fraction of male physiologic dosing and is calibrated to keep total and free testosterone in the female optimization range without driving androgenic effects. Delivery is most often transdermal cream or pellet. The decision to add testosterone in BHRT is provider-reviewed against the full biomarker baseline (estradiol, progesterone, SHBG, total and free testosterone, DHEA-S, thyroid, lipids, CBC, CMP) and against cycle phase or menopausal stage — not on libido symptoms alone.
Educational. Not a substitute for individualized provider review.
- BHRT pathway — Primary source · oMeds
- Hormone balance (women's) — Reference · oMeds Learn
- Perimenopause & menopause — Reference · oMeds Learn
- Reviewed by Dr. Laura Purdy, MD, MBA · Clinical Director, oMeds · Last reviewed 2026-05-29