Services
Specialist assessment, evidence-based prescribing and ongoing monitoring -available to women in perimenopause and beyond, as part of your care with our menopause specialists.
Often overlooked, often essential
Testosterone isn't just a "male" hormone. Women produce it too, and it plays a role in energy, mood, libido, cognition and muscle and bone health. From your late thirties onwards, levels can decline significantly.
For some women, that decline contributes to symptoms HRT alone doesn't fully resolve. We assess testosterone carefully and prescribe it where evidence supports it.
Read more about testosterone in menopause
Why it matters
Testosterone is produced primarily by the ovaries and adrenal glands. As levels decline through perimenopause and menopause, some women feel the effects across multiple areas of health and wellbeing.
The strongest evidence base for testosterone in women is for low sexual desire that's affecting quality of life — particularly when oestrogen alone hasn't been enough.
Some women describe lower physical and mental energy as testosterone levels drop. Replacement may help, particularly when combined with optimised HRT.
Testosterone plays a role in drive, motivation and emotional resilience. Low levels may contribute to a sense of "flatness" that doesn't lift with other treatment.
Brain fog can have many causes. For some women, testosterone supplementation alongside oestrogen helps cognitive symptoms that linger after starting HRT.
Testosterone supports lean muscle mass. While it's not a "performance" treatment, restoring physiological levels may help preserve strength alongside exercise.
Bones benefit from a healthy hormonal profile. Testosterone, alongside oestrogen, may play a supporting role in long-term bone health.
Current British Menopause Society guidance is clear about when testosterone is most likely to benefit women — and we follow that framework closely. Testosterone is typically considered when:
Testosterone isn't a cure-all — and it won't be the right answer for every woman. We'll only recommend it where the evidence supports it for your specific situation.
Our approach
Androfeme cream is now licensed for use in women in the UK — the first testosterone product specifically approved for female use. Other products, originally licensed for men, are used off-label in women at reduced doses. The British Menopause Society supports both approaches within clear clinical guidance, and many women benefit substantially from carefully managed prescribing.
We follow the BMS framework rigorously: appropriate assessment first, low-dose female-appropriate dosing, regular monitoring, and an honest conversation about realistic benefits and possible side effects. You'll always know what we're prescribing, why, and what to expect.
How it works
We discuss your symptoms, history and goals. If testosterone might help, we'll explain the evidence, the off-label status and what monitoring it requires.
Where appropriate, we arrange blood tests for testosterone, SHBG and related markers — establishing your baseline and helping us prescribe safely.
If we proceed, we issue a private prescription and review your response at three months, then six-monthly — adjusting dose and monitoring as needed.
Pricing
There are three components to budget for: your consultation, the medication itself, and the blood tests we use to monitor your levels. We're transparent about all three so you can plan ahead.
Consultation
From £190
The testosterone conversation happens during your consultation (initial £285 or follow-up £190) at no extra charge.
Medication
Varies
The cost of the medication itself is paid directly to the pharmacy. Prices vary by product and quantity — your specialist will explain the options and current costs at your consultation.
Monitoring
From £70
Baseline and ongoing blood tests. See blood test pricing. Phlebotomy fee from £30 separately.
We'll always confirm the full cost with you before any treatment is started, including blood tests, prescription and follow-up.
Please note that, unfortunately, medical insurance does not normally cover testosterone treatment for menopause care.
Monitoring
Testosterone needs careful monitoring to stay safe and effective. After starting treatment, we'll typically review you at three months — checking how you're responding, whether the dose needs adjusting, and how your blood markers look. After that, six-monthly reviews ensure your treatment continues to work for you.
If side effects develop, we'll catch them early. If your symptoms haven't improved, we'll explore why — and we won't continue treatment indefinitely if it isn't helping. Honest reviews, fine-tuning where it helps, and stopping if it doesn't.
FAQs
The questions we hear most often about testosterone for women. If yours isn't here, just ask us.
When prescribed appropriately by an experienced specialist and monitored properly, testosterone is widely considered safe for women in menopause. The British Menopause Society supports its use within clear guidance. Like any medication, it requires correct dosing, regular review and honest conversation about side effects — all of which we provide.
Androfeme cream is now licensed for use in women in the UK — making it the first testosterone product specifically approved for female use. Other testosterone products are licensed for men but commonly prescribed off-label for women at reduced doses, a long-established and legal practice when the evidence supports it. The British Menopause Society endorses both approaches where appropriate.
The strongest evidence for testosterone in women is for low libido that's affecting quality of life. Most women who meet the criteria do experience improvement, but it's not guaranteed for everyone. We'll set honest expectations before starting and review carefully at follow-up.
Most women tolerate appropriate doses well. Possible side effects include acne, oily skin, hair growth at the application site, and rarely changes to voice or scalp hair. These are usually dose-related and reversible when treatment is adjusted or stopped — which is why monitoring matters.
Testosterone for women is prescribed as either a cream (Androfeme) or a gel, applied daily to the outer thigh or lower abdomen. Doses are much lower than the standard male dose.
Not always, but in most cases yes. Current guidance recommends optimising oestrogen replacement first before adding testosterone. Your clinician will discuss your individual situation and what's appropriate for you.
Most women report some benefit within 6–12 weeks of starting at the right dose. We don't recommend judging effectiveness too early — bodies need time to adjust, and benefits often build gradually rather than appearing overnight.
Sometimes — it depends on your GP and local NHS policy. We're happy to write a clinical letter explaining your treatment, but the decision to prescribe under the NHS is ultimately your GP's. Many of our patients continue treatment privately through us.
Book a consultation with one of our menopause specialists. We'll talk through your symptoms, history and goals, and only recommend testosterone if it's right for you.
IMPORTANT UPDATE
We are still here for you for appointments, prescriptions and support as normal until 23 October, but then we close. Please take a moment to read about how this affects your care.
