Testosterone Therapy for Women: What Tampa Patients Should Know
No testosterone product is currently FDA-approved for women in the United States — all testosterone therapy for women is prescribed off-label. Even so, testosterone prescriptions for women have risen sharply in recent years, and the FDA held a public workshop in September 2026 to review the evidence behind its use in menopausal women.
A documented surge in prescriptions
Analysis of public health data has shown that the share of women receiving a testosterone prescription rose by roughly 146% between January 2023 and July 2026. It is one of the more notable shifts in women's hormone care in recent years.
That rise sits inside a broader increase in hormone-therapy use. Social and media attention has grown, and a related shift in menopause hormone therapy guidance has prompted many women to revisit conversations they may have set aside years ago.
What it's actually approved for — and what it isn't
Testosterone therapy for women is off-label use. No testosterone product is FDA-approved specifically for women in the United States, so any prescription reflects a clinician's judgment about the available evidence rather than an approved indication.
The Menopause Society and other major medical groups currently support testosterone therapy in women primarily for low sexual desire related to menopause, known clinically as hypoactive sexual desire. Some clinical experts note that the evidence does not yet establish whether it improves muscle mass, bone density, energy or mood in women — even though those are often the reasons people seek it out.
Why access has gotten complicated
Most insurance plans do not cover testosterone therapy for women. Some pharmacies have also begun declining prescriptions that call for customized, lower doses than standard men's-product packaging provides.
That has led some patients to split men's gel packaging to approximate a smaller dose — an improvised approach that raises real concerns about dosing accuracy and safety. Roots addresses this through individually compounded, clinician-supervised dosing from a licensed, FDA-regulated pharmacy, rather than improvised dosing.
FDA review is underway
In September 2026, the FDA held a public workshop examining the evidence for testosterone therapy in menopausal women, and more than 30 related clinical trials are underway or planned.
This is an active, evolving area of medicine rather than settled science, and guidance may continue to change as new data emerges.
How Roots approaches hormone therapy for women
Hormone care at Roots is bloodwork-led and individualized. Labs, symptoms and health history are reviewed before any hormone therapy is considered, and current evidence and guidelines are part of that conversation.
When therapy is appropriate, dosing is monitored by Roots' medical team rather than self-directed. Candidacy and outcomes vary from person to person, and a consultation is required. This article is educational and is not medical advice for any individual reader.
Frequently asked questions
Is testosterone FDA-approved for women?
No. As of 2026, no testosterone product is FDA-approved specifically for women in the United States. All testosterone therapy for women is prescribed off-label, meaning a clinician is using a medication outside its FDA-approved indication based on clinical judgment and the available evidence.
What is testosterone therapy for women typically used for?
Major medical groups, including the Menopause Society, currently support testosterone therapy in women primarily for low sexual desire related to menopause. It is not currently established, evidence-wise, as a treatment for muscle mass, bone density, energy or mood, even though those are common reasons people seek it out.
Why have testosterone prescriptions for women increased so much?
Public health data shows a sharp rise in testosterone prescriptions for women in recent years, driven by broader interest in hormone therapy, increased social and media attention, and off-label prescribing for symptoms like fatigue and low libido. The FDA has said it has not evaluated most of this off-label use for safety, efficacy or dosing.
Is it hard to get a testosterone prescription filled as a woman?
It can be. Most insurance plans do not cover testosterone therapy for women, and some pharmacies have begun declining prescriptions that call for customized, lower doses than standard packaging provides. Individually compounded, clinician-supervised dosing through a licensed pharmacy is one way patients and providers address this.
How does Roots approach testosterone therapy for women?
Roots takes a bloodwork-led, individualized approach — reviewing labs, symptoms and health history before any hormone therapy is considered, and discussing current evidence and guidelines as part of that conversation. A consultation with Roots' medical team is required, and candidacy and outcomes vary.
Every hormone conversation at Roots begins with a consultation, labs and a clear review of your history and goals.
Book a consult with Roots' medical team to discuss hormone therapy options.