You take testosterone

Davina Mccall recently highlighted the benefits of taking it alongside HRT, but what does testosterone actually do?

Keep hearing about women taking testosterone? It’s no wonder. Dubbed the ‘Davina effect’, Channel 4’s eyeopening menopause documentary in 2021 was responsible for a 30% rise in demand for hormone replacement therapy (HRT)*. Earlier this year, she began championing the benefits of testosterone, which many see as a male hormone, alongside more traditional oestrogen and progesterone for menopausal women with reduced sexual desire. ‘We do need far less testosterone than a man, but a little goes a long way,’ says GP Dr Sohère Roked**. Feel it could work for you? Here’s how your body and brain might respond.

1 IT COULD REVIVE YOUR SEX DRIVE

‘Testosterone causes spikes in desire and increased sexual responsiveness,’ says women’s health specialist Dr Ghazala Aziz-scott***. But it won’t work for everyone. ‘Libido is complex and influenced by lots of factors, such as chronic health conditions, mental health, other medication, relationship issues and stress,’ she explains. ‘Your doctor will consider the whole picture and ensure oestrogen and progesterone levels are adequate first.’

2 YOU WON’T LOOK OR SOUND MASCULINE

‘I’ve prescribed testosterone to thousands of women and none have experienced voice changes,’ says Dr Roked. ‘If a testosterone cream is continually applied to the same area, hair growth may increase there,’ she adds. But this can be solved by varying the application site. An increase in hair throughout the body is unusual. You may find it easier to build or tone muscle, which many women see as positive.

3 IT COULD HELP YOU TO BEAT BRAIN FOG

‘Like oestrogen, testosterone is a neurosteroid, so it supports good focus and concentration, as well as energy levels,’ says Dr Aziz-scott. In fact, testosterone replacement in menopausal women resulted in improved verbal learning and memory, in a

Monash University pilot study. So it may help struggles at work or other areas of your life.

4 SEX MAY START TO FEEL GOOD AGAIN

As well as a higher sex drive, you may find that the sexual experience itself becomes more pleasurable. ‘Reaching orgasm may be easier, due to better blood flow to the genitalia,’ says Dr Aziz-scott. ‘And testosterone can also improve your ability to fantasise.’

5 YOU MIGHT GET SPOTS

Thought you’d left spots behind in your teenage years? ‘Sadly, breakouts and oily skin are among the more common side effects,’ says Dr Roked. Reducing the dose often solves this. ‘In fact, most negative effects are dose-related, so make sure you see a doctor who knows how to manage this.’