US Women’s Testosterone Prescriptions Jump 146% as Pharmacies Resist Off-Label Menopause Use
Updated
Updated · Букви · Sep 17
US Women’s Testosterone Prescriptions Jump 146% as Pharmacies Resist Off-Label Menopause Use
1 articles · Updated · Букви · Sep 17
Summary
Testosterone prescribing for U.S. women rose 146% from January 2023 to July 2026, even though no product is FDA-approved for women and use for menopause remains off-label.
Male-formulated gels often must be split or partially used at lower doses, prompting some pharmacies to delay or refuse prescriptions over dosing accuracy, safety, storage and controlled-substance recordkeeping.
Amazon Pharmacy said it will not fill prescriptions that require patients to alter doses themselves; clinicians and patients also reported access problems at CVS and Walgreens that have worsened since last year.
Cost adds another barrier: a three-month compounded supply can run about $100, versus roughly $30 after discounts for a 10-month supply from a regular pharmacy, and most insurers do not cover the therapy.
The FDA is due to hold a Sept. 17 workshop on testosterone use in menopausal women, while companies including Marius Pharmaceuticals and Aviva Bio work on female-specific products that could ease access.
With the FDA's highly anticipated workshop just concluded, will menopausal women finally get a dedicated testosterone treatment, or will pharmacy barriers persist?
Why are major pharmacies rejecting a hormone treatment that has skyrocketed in demand among women struggling with low sexual desire?
Could the off-label use of male testosterone for female libido pose hidden long-term risks that the medical community is currently ignoring?