Testosterone as part of hormone replacement therapy in menopausal women - what do we know so far? A Narrative Review.

Testosterone, widely known as the male hormone, is also produced naturally in women and plays an important role throughout their lifespan. There has been a growing use of testosterone for a range of symptoms in menopausal women, including low sexual desire, low mood, fatigue, poor memory, and heart and bone health. This review brings together the current evidence and guidelines on testosterone as part of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in menopausal women, including its impact on reproductive and non-reproductive tissues; when it is indicated to be prescribed and in what forms; safety and gaps in existing evidence. We found that there is high-quality evidence to support the use of testosterone for low sexual desire where conventional HRT has not helped. Transdermal preparations are recommended with no serious side effects at testosterone levels normally found in women. There is insufficient evidence to support its use for brain, heart and bone health. This represents an area of focus for future research.