The 2024 NICE Menopause guidelines state that testosterone can be considered for menopausal women with low sexual desire – if hormone replacement therapy (HRT) alone has not been effective [1]. 

However, a study by Newson Research, published in the journal Archives of Women’s Mental Health in 2024, suggests testosterone has benefits beyond libido.

Newson Research’s retrospective cohort study looked at 510 women already taking HRT and were experiencing persistent low libido, cognitive and negative mood symptoms. These women were treated with testosterone cream or gel for four months and filled out a menopause symptom questionnaire to record symptom frequency and severity before and four months after initiating testosterone treatment.

The study found:

• Nine cognitive and mood symptoms significantly improved across the study period
• Mood improved more than cognition: 47% of women reported an improvement in mood, while 39% reported an improvement in cognition
• 52%of women reported an improvement in libido.

Read the full study here.