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Private testosterone therapy for women in London, BMS-guideline led.

Off-label Testogel or AndroFeme for menopausal HSDD when optimised HRT has not restored libido. Proper baseline bloods, three-monthly monitoring and honest counselling on what it will and will not do.

A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What private testosterone therapy for women costs in London.

Indicative ranges across UK private providers.

In short

£150–£350/month, once established.

Service Indicative range
Initial menopause consultation £300–£500
Baseline female androgen bloods £180–£280
Follow-up review (3-monthly early on) £150–£280
Testogel 16.2mg/g pump (private prescription) £35–£55/month
AndroFeme 1% cream (imported, unlicensed) £75–£110/tube (~2 months)
Estimated total monthly cost (consult + medication) £150–£350/month

Prices vary by clinic, by consultant, by product (Testogel or AndroFeme) and by how often you need review.

The problem

The right indication, the right monitoring, the right prescriber.

Testosterone for women is often either denied outright or handed out without proper monitoring. We do neither - BMS guidance, proper bloods, honest counselling.

  • Told libido loss is "just menopause"?

    HSDD after menopause is a recognised indication with clear BMS guidance. It deserves a proper consultation, not a shrug.

  • Prescribed testosterone with no monitoring?

    Off-label prescribing without three-monthly bloods risks androgenic side effects. We build monitoring into every plan.

  • Not been offered HRT optimisation first?

    Testosterone is added to properly optimised HRT - not instead of it. If oestrogen is not right, we fix that before adding testosterone.

When it helps

When testosterone for women is the right step.

The presentations we see most, plus the one red flag that means a psychosexual conversation, not a prescription.

  • HSDD at menopause

    Loss of libido that is distressing, persistent, and not explained by relationship, mood or medication - the core BMS indication.

  • Libido not restored on HRT alone

    Standard oestrogen and, where appropriate, progestogen has been optimised but sexual desire remains flat - the trigger for adding testosterone.

  • Surgical menopause

    Bilateral oophorectomy under 45 causes a sharp drop in testosterone as well as oestrogen - early consideration of testosterone alongside HRT.

  • Post-cancer where HRT is limited

    A specialist opinion is essential - but for some post-cancer patients where limited HRT is permitted, testosterone may be part of the plan.

  • Recurrent low libido after dose change

    Libido fell with an HRT switch or dose change - sometimes testosterone bridges the gap while HRT is rebalanced.

  • Vaginal atrophy alongside HSDD

    GSM is treated separately with topical oestrogen or DHEA - testosterone addresses desire, not the mucosa.

  • Persistent low mood or energy

    Low mood, fatigue and brain fog are not primary indications - depression and thyroid disease need excluding first.

  • Red flag: relationship or trauma factors

    Distressing loss of desire linked to a relationship, trauma or medication (SSRIs, opioids) needs a proper conversation - not a testosterone script.

Prescribing options

Not every low-libido plan needs testosterone.

What each option actually involves - off-label prescribing sits alongside HRT optimisation, GSM treatment and psychosexual therapy.

  • Testogel 16.2mg/g pump (off-label)

    A licensed male product used off-label at roughly one-tenth the male dose. A pea-sized amount three to four times a week to the thigh. Widely used in the UK.

  • AndroFeme 1% cream (unlicensed import)

    A female-strength product imported from Australia on a named-patient basis. Half a fingertip unit daily to the thigh. Purpose-designed for women but not UK-licensed.

  • Testosterone pellets

    Subcutaneous pellets are used in some private clinics but are not recommended by BMS - dose control is poor and levels often exceed the female physiological range.

  • DHEA (oral)

    Oral DHEA is available privately but is not a recommended UK menopause treatment. Evidence for female symptom benefit is weak.

  • HRT optimisation first

    Systemic HRT (oestrogen +/- progestogen +/- vaginal oestrogen) is the foundation. Testosterone is added only after this is optimised.

  • Reversible cause review

    Relationship, mood, GSM, thyroid, antidepressants and opioids can all suppress libido - screened before testosterone is added.

  • Psychosexual therapy

    A psychosexual therapist alongside medical treatment addresses relational and psychological factors - often makes the pharmacology work better.

  • Long-term monitoring

    Bloods to keep testosterone in the female range, plus symptom, mood and side-effect review - the difference between safe prescribing and blank cheques.

Safety and recovery

What to expect on treatment - honestly.

Testosterone for women at physiological doses is well tolerated when monitored. The things worth planning are the off-label conversation, the application routine, and the stopping rules if it does not deliver.

  • Off-label prescribing

    No testosterone product is UK-licensed for women. Off-label use is standard per BMS guidance but you should understand what off-label means before starting.

  • Androgenic side effects

    Increased facial or body hair, acne and voice changes are possible if levels exceed the female range - the reason for three-monthly bloods early on.

  • Application site reactions

    Mild skin irritation or redness at the application site is common in the first weeks and usually settles with site rotation.

  • Transfer to partners and children

    Testogel can transfer to partners and children via skin contact - apply to a covered thigh, wash hands, and wait for the gel to dry before contact.

  • Long-term cardiovascular data

    Long-term cardiovascular safety data in women are limited. Existing evidence in physiological doses is reassuring but ongoing monitoring is part of prescribing.

  • Breast cancer considerations

    Not first-line in current or recent breast cancer without oncology input. Historic breast cancer patients need a joint decision.

  • Pregnancy contraindication

    Testosterone is teratogenic. Any woman of reproductive potential needs reliable contraception while on treatment.

  • When to stop

    Six months without symptom benefit is a stopping point per BMS guidance - testosterone is not a lifelong add-on if it is not working.

  • Red flags to report

    Voice deepening, marked hirsutism, severe acne, mood change or new breast symptoms should trigger a same-week clinic call.

Reading your prescribing letter

Your testosterone prescribing letter in four parts. Read the last one first.

The letter the consultant sends you keeps to the same shape - indication, off-label agreement, monitoring and follow-up.

A UK consultant menopause specialist reviewing a testosterone prescribing letter

A quiet reminder

Off-label prescribing needs plain-English explanation - we translate the letter for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the letter before your review, or bring your GP into the loop for ongoing prescribing, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication and HRT status

    The consultant confirms HSDD and states which HRT has been optimised first, and which reversible causes have been excluded.

  2. 02 Agreement

    Off-label prescribing and consent

    Written statement that testosterone for women is off-label in the UK, prescribed under BMS guidance, with patient understanding recorded.

  3. 03 Monitoring

    Bloods and dose titration plan

    Baseline results, target range (female physiological total testosterone), dose prescribed, and the schedule for three-monthly then six-monthly bloods.

  4. 04 Follow-up

    Review timing, stopping rules, red flags

    Read this first: when you are being reviewed, when treatment stops if it is not working, and what to ring the clinic about.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Cover for menopause consultations is variable on UK policies with a GP referral.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about testosterone for women.

Quick answers on the HSDD indication, off-label prescribing, cost, side effects and NHS access.

  • When is testosterone considered for a woman?

    The recognised indication in the UK is hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) at menopause, where optimised HRT alone has not restored libido and reversible causes (relationship, mood, GSM, medication) have been addressed. It is not a treatment for general fatigue, low mood, brain fog or "feeling below par" - those need their own workup.

  • Which product is used, and are any of them licensed for women?

    No testosterone product is UK-licensed for women. The two commonly prescribed off-label are Testogel 16.2mg/g pump (a licensed male product used at roughly one-tenth the male dose) and AndroFeme 1% cream (a female-strength product imported unlicensed from Australia on a named-patient basis). BMS guidance covers both.

  • What does it cost privately?

    All in, expect £150–£350 per month once established.

  • Is testosterone available on the NHS for women?

    Yes for the HSDD indication after menopause, per NICE and BMS guidance, but access is patchy. Many NHS menopause clinics prescribe testosterone; many local formularies do not. AndroFeme is not routinely available on NHS prescription and Testogel is used off-label. Waiting lists for specialist menopause clinics run months in most areas.

  • What are the side effects I should look out for?

    The common ones are mild skin irritation at the application site, occasional acne and increased facial or body hair - usually dose-related. Voice deepening and marked hirsutism should not happen at properly monitored doses and are stopping signs. Testogel can transfer to skin contacts, which is why application site and timing matter.

  • How long will I be on it?

    As long as it works and you tolerate it. BMS guidance is to stop after six months if there is no meaningful symptom improvement - testosterone is not a lifelong add-on unless it is delivering the benefit you started it for. Long-term prescribing requires ongoing six-monthly monitoring and annual full review.

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