What’s new - The use of testosterone in women

The AMS Board is pleased to bring you this webinar recording on the use of testosterone therapy in women. This webinar is targeted at GPs, endocrinologists, gynaecologists, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals. This presentation will include a review of basic female androgen physiology, when it is appropriate to prescribe testosterone for women as well as how to prescribe testosterone for women. Case studies were presented, as well as questions answered.

Speaker

Professor Susan Davis, MBBS, FRACP, PhD, FAHMS, AO

Professor Davis is an NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellow, Director, Monash University Women’s Health Research Program, Consultant Endocrinologist and Head, Specialist Women’s Health Clinic for women with complex disease, Alfred Hospital Melbourne and consultant at Cabrini Medical Centre.

Her research has advanced the understanding of estrogen and testosterone action, deficiency and replacement in women. She is a past president of the Australasian Menopause Society and immediate past President of the International Menopause Society. She has over 420 peer-reviewed publications and has numerous awards.

Her contributions to endocrinology were recognized by the International Menopause Society Distinguished Service Award (2020), Endocrine Society of Australia Life Membership Award (2020), Endocrine Society of Australia Senior Plenary Award (2019) and the International Excellence in Endocrinology Laureate Award of the Endocrine Society USA (2015).

Moderator

Dr Sonia Davison MBBS FRACP PhD

Dr Davison is the President of the AMS and was appointed to the AMS Board in February 2017.

She is an Endocrinologist with a special interest in Women’s Health. She is a Clinical Fellow at Jean Hailes for Women’s Health and has an adjunct appointment at the Women’s Health Research Program, Monash University.

She is in private practice in Victoria at Cabrini Medical Centre and at Jean Hailes for Women’s Health. Her PhD and postdoctoral research examined sex steroid physiology in women, including measurement of androgens and their relationships with age, mood, sexual function and cognition.

She was also editor of AMS’s Changes magazine for nine years.

Abstract

The role of testosterone in women and its potential as a therapeutic agent continues to attract controversy. The clinical trials of testosterone therapy for women have primarily focussed on treatment of female sexual dysfunction, with the largest placebo-controlled studies being of transdermal testosterone in postmenopausal women. Based on the cumulative data from these studies, loss of sexual desire with associated personal distress is presently the only agreed upon indication for judicious testosterone supplementation for postmenopausal women.

Based on the available data, testosterone supplementation should not be used to improve cardiometabolic, musculoskeletal or cognitive health, wellbeing and low mood, or vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women; there are presently insufficient data to support the use of testosterone in premenopausal women. Globally, the use of compounded testosterone formulations is discouraged, and when these are the only treatment option, adherence to the highest manufacturing standard is required. In Australia, a TGA approved testosterone is now available. Therefore this abrogates the need to prescribe compounded testosterone. Testosterone supplementation for women with HSDD should always be considered a trial of therapy.

Content created March 2021