Menopause and Perimenopause

Testosterone for Menopause: Information for Patients

At Aspen Medical Practice, we are committed to supporting women through the menopause and providing high-quality care. We can assess menopausal symptoms and prescribe many types of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) when appropriate.

We understand that some patients are interested in testosterone treatment and that waiting times for NHS menopause specialists can sometimes be long.

Why can’t the practice start testosterone treatment?
Testosterone treatment for menopausal symptoms is a specialist area of menopause care. The clinicians at Aspen Medical Practice do not provide specialist menopause services and therefore will not prescribe testosterone for menopausal symptoms.

We believe that decisions regarding testosterone treatment should be made and managed by clinicians with specialist expertise in menopause care who are able to provide the necessary assessment, follow-up, dose adjustment and monitoring.

What does the evidence say?
According to guidance from the British Menopause Society (BMS), the main evidence-based use of testosterone in menopause is for women who have persistent low sexual desire (low libido) after menopause, when other possible causes have been considered and addressed.

Current evidence does not show that testosterone improves most other menopausal symptoms, nor is there evidence that it prevents conditions such as osteoporosis (bone thinning) or dementia.

While some women may benefit from testosterone treatment, evidence regarding its long-term safety in women remains limited, and uncertainty remains about the effects of prolonged use. Treatment decisions therefore require careful specialist assessment and ongoing monitoring.

In addition, there is currently no testosterone product routinely prescribed within NHS primary care specifically for menopausal symptoms in women. Testosterone treatment for menopause has commonly involved the use of preparations outside their licensed indication (“off-label”), requiring specialist oversight and monitoring.

What support can Aspen Medical Practice provide?
We are happy to discuss any menopausal symptoms with you and explore the treatment options available.

We can:
– Assess your menopausal symptoms.
– Provide advice and support.
– Prescribe non-testosterone forms of HRT where clinically appropriate.
– Discuss lifestyle and non-hormonal treatment options.
– Refer you to an NHS menopause specialist service if you would like to explore whether
testosterone treatment may be suitable for you.

If I see an NHS menopause specialist
If you are assessed by an NHS menopause specialist and testosterone treatment is recommended or initiated, Aspen Medical Practice will currently not take over prescribing or monitoring of this treatment.

Any ongoing prescribing, monitoring, dose adjustments and follow-up remain the responsibility of the specialist service recommending the treatment.

Private menopause clinics
Aspen Medical Practice does not enter into shared-care arrangements, or similar prescribing agreements, with private providers for testosterone therapy for menopause.

If testosterone is prescribed by a private provider, ongoing prescribing and monitoring arrangements remain the responsibility of that provider unless otherwise agreed by the practice.

Further questions
If you would like to discuss menopause symptoms or treatment options, please book an appointment with one of our clinicians. We will be happy to discuss the safest and most appropriate treatment options for your individual circumstances.