Testosterone has become one of the most talked about hormones in menopause care. Many women have heard it described as a "game changer" for everything from low libido to brain fog, energy and confidence.
But what does the research actually tell us? And could testosterone be right for you?
Testosterone Isn't Just a Male Hormone
When people hear the word testosterone, they often think of men. However, women naturally produce testosterone too.
Produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands, testosterone plays a role in sexual desire, arousal, mood, wellbeing and energy levels. As we age, testosterone levels gradually decline, particularly after menopause and following surgical menopause.
What Is Testosterone Used For?
The strongest evidence for testosterone in women relates to low sexual desire, sometimes called Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD).
Research consistently shows that testosterone can improve sexual desire, arousal, pleasure and satisfaction in postmenopausal women who are troubled by a loss of libido. This is currently the reason most international menopause organisations support its use.
It's important to remember that low libido can have many causes, including stress, relationship difficulties, poor sleep, anxiety, medication side effects and other health conditions. Testosterone isn't the answer for everyone, but for some women it can make a significant difference.
What About Brain Fog, Memory and Concentration?
This is where things become a little less clear.
Many women tell us they feel mentally sharper after starting testosterone. Some report improvements in concentration, confidence, motivation and their overall sense of wellbeing.
There has been some recent research suggesting testosterone may help improve mood and cognitive symptoms in menopausal women. However, these studies cannot prove that testosterone alone was responsible for the improvements seen.
When researchers look specifically at memory, concentration and cognitive performance, the evidence is much more limited.
A recent systematic review and meta-analysis found that there is currently no clear evidence that testosterone improves cognitive function, including memory, executive function or learning ability. The researchers also highlighted that there are only a small number of studies available, involving relatively few women, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions.
In simple terms, this doesn't mean testosterone definitely doesn't help brain fog. It means we don't yet have enough high-quality evidence to confidently say that it does.
For many women, this is an important distinction.
Why Do Some Women Feel Better on Testosterone?
Hormones affect us in complex ways.
If testosterone improves libido, sleep, confidence, energy or overall wellbeing, it isn't surprising that some women feel mentally better too. Feeling more like yourself again can have a positive impact on many areas of life.
However, from a scientific perspective, we cannot currently say that testosterone directly improves memory or cognitive performance in the way some social media posts may suggest.
Is There a Testosterone Product for Women?
One of the biggest frustrations for both patients and clinicians is that there are currently no testosterone products licensed specifically for women in the UK.
This means that when testosterone is prescribed, clinicians usually prescribe a very small dose of products that were originally developed for men. These treatments are used "off licence", which simply means they are being used in a way that differs from their original licence.
Although this sounds worrying, off licence prescribing is common in medicine and is supported by menopause specialists when carried out appropriately, with careful monitoring and dosing.
The good news is that Androfeme 1, a testosterone cream specifically developed for women, is already available in some countries and may become available more widely in the future. Many menopause specialists hope this will eventually provide women with a licensed product designed specifically for female testosterone replacement.
Is Testosterone Right for Everyone?
No.
Like all treatments, testosterone should be prescribed after a careful assessment of symptoms, medical history and expectations.
Women considering testosterone should understand that:
- The strongest evidence is for low sexual desire.
- Some women report improvements in mood, energy and wellbeing.
- Evidence for improving brain fog, memory and concentration remains limited.
- Regular monitoring is needed to ensure testosterone levels stay within the normal female range.
- Benefits and potential side effects should always be discussed with a menopause specialist.
- Testosterone is not a treatment that should be continued indefinitely without benefit. Most menopause specialists would expect to see some meaningful improvement within around 3 to 6 months. If no benefit has been noticed after six months of treatment, it is generally recommended that testosterone is stopped, as continuing treatment is unlikely to provide improvement later.
The Bottom Line
Testosterone can be a very helpful treatment for some menopausal women, particularly those experiencing distressing low libido.
While many women also report improvements in confidence, mood and mental clarity, current research has not yet shown clear or consistent benefits for memory, concentration or cognitive function. More high-quality studies are needed before we can confidently recommend testosterone as a treatment for menopause related brain fog.
There is also currently no testosterone product licensed specifically for women in the UK, meaning treatment is usually prescribed using carefully adjusted doses of products licensed for men. Many clinicians are hopeful that the availability of female specific products such as Androfeme 1 will improve access to treatment in the future.
As with all areas of menopause care, the decision to use testosterone should be individual, evidence based and centred around your own symptoms, priorities and goals. Equally important is regular review. If testosterone is helping, that's excellent. If it isn't making a noticeable difference after six months, it is reasonable to reassess whether continuing treatment is the right choice.
Further Reading
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Davis SR et al. Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2019.
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Parish SJ 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, 2021.
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Faulkner A et al. Testosterone Therapy for Cognition in Menopause: Systematic Review and Meta Analysis. Reproduction & Fertility, 2026.
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Davis SR et al. Effect of Transdermal Testosterone Therapy on Mood and Cognitive Symptoms in Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women. Archives of Women's Mental Health, 2024.