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Approved drug · Off-label use

Testosterone for women: uses, dosing, side effects and where to get it

Low-dose testosterone is sometimes added to menopause care for low sexual desire. No product is approved for women in the US, so it is prescribed off-label, and it is a controlled substance.

Open jar of white cream with a wooden spatula

By the RxLineup editorial team · Fact-checked against provider sites and FDA labels · Updated

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Active ingredient
Testosterone
Made by
Not stated
Form
Low-dose cream or gel (compounded, or a product approved for men at a reduced dose); some clinics use injections
Price online
None of the online providers we compare publishes a price for testosterone. Henry Meds adds testosterone for $100 on top of its $149 monthly HRT price, if prescribed.

Safety

Testosterone products approved for men carry a boxed warning about secondary exposure: children who touched the skin where it was applied have shown virilization. Testosterone can harm a developing baby and must not be used in pregnancy. Too high a dose can cause acne, unwanted hair growth, a deeper voice and other signs of androgen excess; the consensus statement advises against pellets, injections or any product that gives levels above the female range, and against compounded testosterone.

Talk to a licensed clinician about your health history and every medication you take before you start.

Prescription only; FDA-approved for other uses. Testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance, and its use in women is off-label. Prescribing it by telemedicine without an in-person exam relies on a temporary DEA and HHS rule that runs through Dec 31, 2026 and needs a live video visit with the prescriber. Compounded testosterone creams are not FDA-approved.

What testosterone for women is

No testosterone product is FDA-approved for women. Products approved for men are used off-label at a fraction of the male dose, or a pharmacy compounds a cream that is not FDA-approved.

Dosing

Usually once a day for creams and gels. No FDA-labeled dose for women. A 2019 global consensus statement advises keeping levels in the premenopausal female range: measure total testosterone before starting, again 3 to 6 weeks in, then every 6 months. Your clinician sets the dose for you.

How well it works

The 2019 Global Consensus Position Statement, endorsed by The Endocrine Society and The North American Menopause Society among others, found the only evidence-based use is for postmenopausal women diagnosed with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). It found insufficient data for any other symptom or for disease prevention and advises stopping if there is no benefit by 6 months. Individual results vary.

Testosterone for women cost

None of the online providers we compare publishes a price for testosterone. Henry Meds adds testosterone for $100 on top of its $149 monthly HRT price, if prescribed. For a full breakdown, read How much does HRT cost without insurance?. For the steps, read How to get HRT online.

Questions, answered

How much does testosterone for women cost online?
None of the online providers we compare publishes a price for testosterone. Henry Meds adds testosterone for $100 on top of its $149 monthly HRT price, if prescribed.

Is testosterone for women FDA-approved?
Not for this use. Testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance, and its use in women is off-label. Prescribing it by telemedicine without an in-person exam relies on a temporary DEA and HHS rule that runs through Dec 31, 2026 and needs a live video visit with the prescriber. Compounded testosterone creams are not FDA-approved.

How do you take testosterone for women?
Usually once a day for creams and gels. No FDA-labeled dose for women. A 2019 global consensus statement advises keeping levels in the premenopausal female range: measure total testosterone before starting, again 3 to 6 weeks in, then every 6 months.

What are the risks of testosterone for women?
Testosterone products approved for men carry a boxed warning about secondary exposure: children who touched the skin where it was applied have shown virilization. Testosterone can harm a developing baby and must not be used in pregnancy. Too high a dose can cause acne, unwanted hair growth, a deeper voice and other signs of androgen excess; the consensus statement advises against pellets, injections or any product that gives levels above the female range, and against compounded testosterone.

Can I get testosterone for women online?
A licensed clinician can prescribe testosterone for women after an online or in-person visit.

Sources

  1. Davis et al., Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women, J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2019
  2. Testosterone topical solution label: boxed warning on secondary exposure (openFDA, effective Jan 13, 2026)
  3. DEA/HHS: fourth temporary extension of telemedicine flexibilities for controlled substances (Dec 31, 2025)