This men’s hormone therapy is showing up in menopause care

A new peer-reviewed study is putting testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for women on the radar, especially around menopause.

The research followed 332 women receiving TRT and found that many reported shifts in how they felt day to day, not just in libido but in overall quality of life. It adds to a small and growing case of work suggesting testosterone may play a bigger role in women’s midlife health than standard care reflects.

Improved energy and quality of life came first

In the study, women receiving TRT reported several notable changes: 84% reported improved energy, 65% reported improved mood and sexual interest, and nearly 90% reported improved overall quality of life. These are observational findings rather than results from a randomized controlled trial, which means they can’t prove testosterone alone caused those changes—but they do highlight a noticeable pattern in symptoms.

What this means for women’s hormone care

Testosterone is traditionally framed as a male hormone, but women produce it too, and levels naturally decline with age and through the menopause transition. Despite that, most menopause care has centered primarily on estrogen and progesterone, with testosterone either left out of the conversation or treated mainly as a libido fix.

This early data suggests its impact may be broader, touching energy, mood, and overall quality of life — areas where many women report feeling dismissed or told it’s a “normal” part of aging.

What it doesn’t answer (yet)

Because the research is observational and based on a single treatment database, important questions remain unanswered: which women benefit most, which doses and delivery methods are safest, and how to monitor long-term effects. The authors themselves call for more rigorous research and point to ongoing gaps in access, since many women still struggle to find clinicians comfortable prescribing and tracking testosterone as part of menopause care.

It also doesn’t mean TRT is a fit for every menopausal woman, but it is finally being looked at more seriously. Still, testosterone isn’t FDA-approved specifically for menopause symptoms in women. If you’re curious, it’s worth discussing with your healthcare provider.