Testosterone therapy is associated with significant improvements in perimenopausal and menopause symptoms in women with a history of breast cancer, a new study has found.

The study looked at 47 perimenopausal and menopausal women with a history of breast cancer who had been prescribed testosterone as a gel or cream. They were not prescribed any other hormones. Their symptoms were compared before treatment and again around three to six months later. The majority of these women, 87%, had estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer and the average time since diagnosis of breast cancer was six years.

Before starting testosterone, symptoms were widespread and severe, with most women reporting fatigue (98%), brain fog (96%), reduced libido (96%), poor sleep (94%), and/or muscle and joint pain (94%).

At follow-up (average time was 3.7 months), overall symptom scores were significantly lower. The most significant reductions in symptoms were feeling unhappy/depressed (from 81% to 51%), loss of interest or pleasure (from 81% to 60), anxiety and panic (from 79% to 51%), night sweats (from 79% to 55%) and palpitations (from 60% to 32%), plus 42% of women found that their libido improved.

Dr Louise Newson, founder of Balance app and co-author of the study, says: ‘We have known for many decades that symptoms of low mood, anxiety, low motivation, memory problems, reduced energy, poor sleep, joint pains, migraines and low libido can improve in women taking testosterone.

‘There is also some evidence that women taking testosterone after breast cancer have a better outcome from their breast cancer. This small study is reassuring, and more work needs to be done in this area.

‘Every woman who has had breast cancer should have access to a clinician who is both knowledgeable and experienced in providing individualised hormone treatments based on limited evidence and patient choice.’

The findings of this study, which is published in the medical journal Menopause, highlight gaps in current perimenopause and menopause care and treatment after breast cancer and support the need for further research into whether testosterone could be a helpful option for women.

You can read the study here.

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