Menopause and women's health · UK
Testosterone for women, by a specialist menopause clinician.
Off-label transdermal testosterone for postmenopausal HSDD, prescribed by a BMS-certified menopause specialist. HRT optimised first, free androgen index monitored properly, and an honest read on what will and will not change.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A BMS-certified menopause specialist, not a general GP list
Not a five-minute private script. A named menopause specialist trained through the British Menopause Society, who prescribes testosterone weekly and monitors it properly.
- 02
HRT optimised first, then testosterone considered
Testosterone is rarely the first answer. We check oestrogen, progesterone, thyroid, sleep and relationship factors before adding an androgen.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What private testosterone for women costs in London.
Indicative ranges across our partner menopause clinics. Off-label prescribing means the medication itself is inexpensive; the value sits in the specialist consult and the monitoring.
In short
A comprehensive year on testosterone with a menopause specialist: £850–£2,400, reviewed every 3 to 6 months.
| Item | Indicative range | Typical duration | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial menopause specialist consultation | £280–£550 | 45–60 min | Same visit |
| Baseline androgen and menopause blood panel | £180–£320 | 15 min | 3–5 days |
| Testogel or Tostran (monthly cost) | £15–£45 | Daily use | Same-day script |
| AndroFeme cream (imported, monthly) | £45–£85 | Daily use | 7–14 days |
| Follow-up review with repeat bloods (3–6 monthly) | £220–£420 | 30 min | Same visit |
| Comprehensive annual menopause + testosterone programme | £850–£2,400 | Ongoing | Ongoing |
Prices vary by clinic and whether AndroFeme is imported. Insurers rarely fund off-label testosterone, so most patients pay privately. We confirm a firm figure within one working day.
The journey
From first enquiry to annual monitoring - what happens, in order.
One specialist from first message to annual review, with clear stop rules if testosterone does not work for you.
- 01
Before
You send a short symptom summary
A confidential form covering menopause status, HRT already in place, sexual desire, energy, mood, sleep and any oophorectomy or breast history.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: whether testosterone fits, or whether HRT tuning, thyroid review or psychosexual referral is the better call first.
- 03
Before
Baseline bloods and specialist consult
Total testosterone, SHBG, free androgen index, lipids, LFTs and a full menopause profile before you meet the specialist.
- 04
Consultation
The consultation
45 to 60 minutes with a BMS-certified menopause specialist. History, HSDD screen, contraindication check, shared decision and a written plan.
- 05
Consultation
Off-label prescription
Testogel sachet (pea-sized daily), Tostran pump, or AndroFeme cream imported via a specialist pharmacy. Written instructions on where and how to apply.
- 06
After
Three to six month review
Repeat bloods to keep free androgen index inside the female range (0.7 to 2.4 per cent), symptom review, and side-effect check.
- 07
After
Annual monitoring thereafter
Yearly androgen profile, lipids, FBC and a face-to-face review. Dose adjusted down at the first sign of virilisation.
When it helps
When testosterone is the right step - and when it is not.
Evidence is strongest for postmenopausal HSDD. Everything else is off-label with weaker evidence, and we say so.
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Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD)
The only NICE-recognised indication (NG23, 2024 update). Persistent loss of desire causing distress in a postmenopausal woman, after HRT is optimised.
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Surgical menopause after oophorectomy
Removal of both ovaries can drop testosterone by around 50 per cent overnight. Replacement is often considered earlier in this group.
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Persistent low libido on adequate HRT
Oestrogen and progesterone are dialled in, vaginal symptoms treated, and desire is still absent or distressing.
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Fatigue and low mood, HRT already optimised
Off-label use with weaker evidence. We are honest about what testosterone will and will not fix here.
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Reduced muscle mass and recovery
Emerging evidence only. Not a licensed use, not a performance product, and not a substitute for resistance training and protein.
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Cognitive fog, in isolation
Evidence is weak. We look for sleep disorder, thyroid, iron, B12, HRT dose and mood before ascribing brain fog to low testosterone.
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Younger women with premature ovarian insufficiency
A specialist decision. POI often needs full HRT first; testosterone is added by a menopause specialist if symptoms persist.
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Red flag: androgen-sensitive cancer or pregnancy
Testosterone is not prescribed in current androgen-sensitive breast or endometrial cancer, in pregnancy or breastfeeding, or where hirsutism is already troublesome.
Delivery options
The products a menopause specialist actually prescribes.
There is no licensed female testosterone product in the UK. These are the off-label and named-patient options a menopause specialist will consider.
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Testogel 50 mg / 5 mL sachet (Besins)
The workhorse. A pea-sized amount daily to the outer thigh or lower abdomen. Women use around one tenth of the male dose, so one sachet lasts about ten days.
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Tostran 2 per cent metered pump (Kyowa Kirin)
A smaller, more precise pump delivery. Useful when a very low starting dose is needed or a sachet is hard to divide accurately.
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Testim gel
Similar to Testogel, less commonly stocked in the UK. Same off-label female dosing principle applies.
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AndroFeme 1 per cent cream (5 mg/mL)
The most refined female product, formulated in Australia. Not UK-licensed; imported via a specialist pharmacy on a named-patient basis.
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Subcutaneous testosterone implants
100 mg pellet inserted every 3 to 6 months, offered by a few specialist London menopause clinics. Steady delivery but harder to titrate down if side effects appear.
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Delivery site rotation
Rotate between outer thigh, lower abdomen and buttock. Avoid the breast, the genital area, and skin your partner will touch soon after application.
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What we do not prescribe
Injectable testosterone (male product), pellets outside a specialist clinic setting, and supraphysiological doses aimed at anti-ageing or performance.
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Second-opinion review
A specialist review of your current HRT and androgen results, when you are unsure whether to start, continue or stop testosterone.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of menopause specialists, we picked them.
BMS-certified menopause clinicians in London, including practitioners aligned with Newson Health, The Menopause Clinic Marylebone, London Menopause Centre, HCA The Wellington Women's Health, Chelsea and Westminster Private Menopause and Cleveland Clinic London.
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BMS-certified menopause specialists who prescribe testosterone weekly, not once a year
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Clinics that check baseline and follow-up androgen profile with SHBG and free androgen index
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Access to Newson Health, The Menopause Clinic Marylebone, London Menopause Centre and HCA-affiliated units
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Clear off-label consent, honest evidence discussion, and a plan for stopping if it does not work
Safety and expectations
What to expect - honestly.
Physiological dosing is generally well tolerated. The things worth planning are the side-effect profile, transfer risk, monitoring schedule and a stop rule.
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Off-label prescribing, clearly consented
No licensed female testosterone product exists in the UK. Every prescription is off-label and every patient signs a shared-decision consent that says so.
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Skin side effects
Acne, oily skin and a mild increase in body hair are dose-dependent and usually reversible. Report them early so we can drop the dose.
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Virilisation is uncommon but real
Deep voice, clitoromegaly and male-pattern hair loss can occur at supraphysiological doses. Voice changes may be permanent, which is why we monitor free androgen index.
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Mood, weight and lipid changes
Rarely, mood shifts or a small weight gain. High doses can worsen lipids. Kept in check by staying inside the female physiological range.
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Transfer to partners and children
Skin-to-skin transfer of gel is a real risk. Wash hands, cover the site, and avoid transfer to a partner, a child or a pet in the hours after application.
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Contraindications
Current androgen-sensitive cancer, pregnancy, breastfeeding, uncontrolled acne or hirsutism, uncontrolled cardiovascular disease and untreated polycythaemia.
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Monitoring schedule
Baseline testosterone, SHBG, FAI, lipids, LFTs, FBC. Recheck at 3 to 6 months, then annually. FAI kept inside 0.7 to 2.4 per cent.
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Realistic timelines
Sexual desire responds in 3 to 6 months if it is going to. Energy and mood outcomes are variable. If nothing has changed by 6 months, we stop.
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Not an anti-ageing product
Testosterone is not a longevity drug, not a fat burner, and not a substitute for HRT, sleep, resistance training or treating depression.
Your menopause plan
Your plan in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever product is prescribed, the written plan the specialist sends you keeps to the same shape.
- 01 Header
Menopause stage, HRT already in place, HSDD screen
Where you are in the menopause transition, current oestrogen and progesterone regimen, and a validated sexual desire screen.
- 02 Bloods
Baseline androgen profile
Total testosterone, SHBG and calculated free androgen index, plus lipids, LFTs and FBC as a safety baseline.
- 03 Plan
Product, dose and delivery
Which off-label product (Testogel, Tostran, AndroFeme), starting dose, site rotation and a written stop-if-it-does-not-work rule.
- 04 Follow-up
Monitoring interval and safety review
Read this first: when your next bloods are due, which side effects to report, and when the specialist will review the response.
Consultation cover with major UK insurers
Insurers may fund the menopause consultation and bloods; off-label testosterone itself is usually self-pay. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about testosterone for women.
Quick answers on licensing, cost, application, side effects and when not to take it.
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Is testosterone licensed for women in the UK?
No. There is no licensed female testosterone product in the UK. Menopause specialists prescribe male products (Testogel, Tostran, Testim) off-label at roughly one tenth of the male dose, or the imported Australian AndroFeme cream on a named-patient basis. Off-label prescribing is legal and common in this setting, and it should be clearly consented.
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What is the only NICE-recognised indication?
Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in postmenopausal women whose HRT has already been optimised. This is set out in the British Menopause Society 2022 position statement and reflected in the NICE NG23 update in 2024. Everything else, including energy, mood, cognition and muscle claims, is off-label with weaker evidence.
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How much does private testosterone for women cost?
Initial menopause specialist consultation runs £280 to £550. The gel or cream itself is £15 to £45 a month for Testogel or Tostran, or £45 to £85 for imported AndroFeme. Monitoring bloods every 3 to 6 months are £80 to £150. A comprehensive annual menopause programme including testosterone is £850 to £2,400.
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How is it applied and how long does a sachet last?
A pea-sized amount of Testogel is applied daily to the outer thigh or lower abdomen. Because women use around one tenth of the male dose, a single 5 mL sachet lasts around ten days. Rotate sites, wash your hands after applying, and cover the area before skin contact with a partner or child.
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What are the realistic side effects?
Acne, oily skin and a mild increase in body hair are the common ones and usually reverse with a dose reduction. Virilisation, meaning voice deepening, clitoromegaly and male-pattern hair loss, is uncommon at physiological doses but is the reason we monitor free androgen index and stay inside the female range. High doses can also affect lipids.
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When should I not take testosterone?
Current androgen-sensitive breast or endometrial cancer, pregnancy, breastfeeding, uncontrolled acne or hirsutism, uncontrolled cardiovascular disease and untreated polycythaemia are all contraindications. Testosterone is also not a first-line answer for fatigue or brain fog before HRT, thyroid, iron, sleep and mood have been addressed.
Speak to a menopause specialist
Not sure if testosterone is right for you? Let us match you.
Send a short summary of your symptoms and current HRT. Within one working day we come back with a named menopause specialist, a price and an honest read on whether testosterone is the right next step.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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Menopause blood panel
A full baseline androgen and hormone workup before starting HRT or testosterone.
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Testosterone replacement therapy (men)
Licensed male TRT with an endocrinologist or andrologist.
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BHRT bioidentical hormones
Body-identical HRT prescribed by a menopause specialist.
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PCOS clinic
Specialist care for polycystic ovary syndrome.
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Endometriosis clinic
Diagnosis and management of endometriosis.
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Vaginal laser (MonaLisa Touch)
Non-hormonal treatment for genitourinary syndrome of menopause.
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Menopause (condition guide)
What menopause is, what it treats and how private care works.
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HSDD (condition guide)
Hypoactive sexual desire disorder in women.
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