For years, women going through perimenopause and menopause have heard extensive discussions about estrogen and progesterone.
Testosterone has often received far less attention.
That conversation may be beginning to change.
On September 17, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration hosted a public scientific workshop titled “Testosterone Use in Menopausal Women.”
The meeting brought together clinicians, researchers, regulators, advocates, and other experts to examine what we currently know about testosterone therapy in women — and, just as importantly, what we still need to learn.
At Revitalizing Health & Hormones, we believe this conversation is important.
Many women come to our clinic describing changes in sexual health, energy, strength, body composition, motivation, mood, and overall well-being during the menopausal transition. Hormonal changes can be one component of that much larger picture.
Seeing the FDA devote a scientific workshop specifically to testosterone use in menopausal women reflects growing attention to an area of women’s health that deserves further research, better clinician education, and thoughtful individualized care.
Why Did the FDA Hold This Workshop?
According to the FDA, important questions remain regarding testosterone treatment in menopausal women.
The workshop examined evidence and research gaps involving areas such as:
- Sexual function
- Cognition
- Mood
- Musculoskeletal health
- Testosterone laboratory measurement
- Dosing
- Appropriate patient selection
- Cardiovascular safety
- Breast health
- Long-term treatment safety
The discussion also highlighted a larger issue: the available research does not always fully reflect the questions women and clinicians are addressing in everyday clinical practice.
For many years, hormone therapy research and clinical practice were also heavily influenced by concerns arising after publication of the Women’s Health Initiative in 2002. Over time, our understanding of menopausal hormone therapy has become more nuanced, and the FDA has continued to reevaluate how menopausal hormone therapies are discussed and labeled.
The September 2026 workshop represents another opportunity to examine the evidence surrounding women’s hormone health more closely.
What Does the Research Currently Tell Us?
Testosterone is not exclusively a “male hormone.”
Women naturally produce testosterone throughout their lives, and androgen receptors are found throughout the body.
Current international consensus statements and clinical guidelines recognize evidence supporting testosterone treatment for appropriately evaluated postmenopausal women experiencing hypoactive sexual desire disorder, or HSDD.
HSDD involves persistent loss of sexual desire that causes personal distress and cannot be better explained by another medical condition, medication, psychological issue, or relationship factor.
The International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health has published clinical guidance addressing how testosterone therapy may be evaluated, dosed, and monitored in these patients.
At the same time, evidence regarding testosterone for broader menopausal concerns — including mood, cognition, muscle health, bone health, energy, and overall well-being — remains less definitive.
That does not make these questions unimportant.
It makes further research especially important.
A Laboratory Number Is Only Part of the Picture
One of the key themes surrounding testosterone therapy is that a laboratory result alone should not define treatment.
There is no single testosterone laboratory value that independently determines whether a woman needs treatment or predicts how she will respond.
Instead, clinicians should evaluate the entire patient.
That may include:
- Current symptoms
- Medical history
- Menstrual and menopausal history
- Sexual health
- Current medications
- Other hormone levels
- Thyroid function
- Metabolic health
- Nutritional status
- Sleep
- Stress
- Lifestyle
- Treatment goals
- Potential risks and contraindications
Laboratory testing remains important, particularly for establishing baseline values and monitoring therapy.
However, good hormone care should never be reduced to simply treating a number on a laboratory report.
Why Personalized Care Matters
Menopause does not look the same for every woman.
Neither should menopause care.
One woman may struggle primarily with hot flashes and sleep disruption.
Another may notice changes in sexual desire, mood, strength, body composition, motivation, or energy.
Many women experience several of these symptoms simultaneously.
At Revitalizing Health & Hormones, our approach is to evaluate the patient as a whole rather than assuming every symptom has one explanation.
Depending on the individual patient, that evaluation may include consideration of:
- Estrogen
- Progesterone
- Testosterone and other androgen markers
- Thyroid function
- Metabolic health
- Nutritional status
- Sleep quality
- Stress
- Lifestyle factors
- Medical history
- Personal treatment goals
Hormone therapy, when appropriate, should be individualized and followed with appropriate clinical and laboratory monitoring.
What About Testosterone Pellets?
Testosterone can be delivered through several different routes.
At Revitalizing Health & Hormones, pellet therapy is one of the hormone-delivery options available for appropriately selected patients.
Pellets provide sustained hormone delivery over time and may be attractive to patients who prefer an option that does not require daily administration.
However, it is important to distinguish clinical practice from the strength of evidence available for each individual formulation.
Much of the existing randomized clinical-trial evidence surrounding testosterone therapy in women has focused on transdermal testosterone.
Research directly comparing different testosterone formulations and delivery methods in women remains limited.
That is another reason ongoing research is so important.
The goal should not be to assume that one delivery method is appropriate for every woman.
Instead, clinicians should understand the available evidence, discuss potential benefits and risks, consider patient preferences and medical history, and monitor treatment appropriately.
Why the FDA Workshop Matters
The September 2026 FDA workshop may represent an important step toward expanding research surrounding testosterone therapy for women.
The FDA specifically identified areas where additional evidence would be valuable, including:
- Which women are most likely to benefit
- Which symptoms respond most consistently to therapy
- Appropriate dosing
- Appropriate laboratory measurement
- Patient selection
- Cardiovascular outcomes
- Breast health
- Musculoskeletal outcomes
- Long-term safety
- Development of therapies specifically studied and approved for women
These are exactly the kinds of questions clinicians need answered.
Better research ultimately gives both clinicians and patients better information when making treatment decisions.
More Research Does Not Mean Ignoring Women’s Symptoms Today
Scientific uncertainty does not mean women’s symptoms should be dismissed.
It means clinicians should have thoughtful conversations with patients about:
- What we know
- What remains uncertain
- What treatment options currently exist
- What potential risks and benefits should be considered
- What type of monitoring may be appropriate
Evidence-informed care includes published research, clinical expertise, individual patient circumstances, and patient goals.
As the evidence surrounding testosterone continues to evolve, clinicians should evolve with it.
Our Approach at Revitalizing Health & Hormones
At Revitalizing Health & Hormones, we believe hormone care should be:
Personalized. Monitored. Evidence-informed. And centered around the patient.
We do not believe menopause care should involve prescribing the same treatment to every woman.
Instead, we work to understand each patient’s symptoms, laboratory findings, medical history, risk factors, lifestyle, and goals before developing an individualized treatment plan.
For some women, testosterone may become part of that conversation.
For others, treatment may involve estrogen, progesterone, thyroid support, metabolic treatment, nutrition, lifestyle changes, or another approach entirely.
The growing national conversation surrounding testosterone and women’s health is encouraging because it brings additional attention to an area that deserves rigorous research.
We welcome that research.
We welcome stronger clinical evidence.
We welcome better clinician education.
And most importantly, we welcome continued conversations that take women’s symptoms and health concerns seriously.
References
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Testosterone Use in Menopausal Women – Public Workshop. September 17, 2026.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Testosterone Use in Menopausal Women; Public Workshop; Request for Comments. Docket FDA-2026-N-5479. Federal Register. August 18, 2026.
Davis SR, Baber R, Panay N, et al. Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women. Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2019;16(9):1331-1337.
Parish SJ, Simon JA, Davis SR, et al. International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health Clinical Practice Guideline for the Use of Systemic Testosterone for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in Women. Journal of Women’s Health. 2021;30(4):474-491.
Wierman ME, Arlt W, Basson R, et al. Androgen Therapy in Women: A Reappraisal: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2014;99(10):3489-3510.
Medical Disclaimer
This information is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition. It should not be considered a substitute for individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional.
Hormone therapy, including testosterone therapy, is not appropriate for every patient, and potential benefits, risks, treatment options, dosing, and monitoring should be evaluated on an individual basis.
If you are experiencing symptoms related to perimenopause, menopause, hormone changes, sexual health, fatigue, body composition, mood, or other health concerns, we recommend scheduling a consultation with Revitalizing Health & Hormones. Our clinical team can review your symptoms, medical history, laboratory findings, risk factors, and personal goals to determine what evaluation or treatment options may be appropriate for you.
Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, or hormone therapy.
