# Women seek testosterone for low sex drive as doctors face treatment gaps

> Women increasingly use testosterone for menopause symptoms but face insurance barriers and dosing challenges.
- Title: Women seek testosterone for low sex drive as doctors face…
- Summary: Women increasingly use testosterone for menopause symptoms but face insurance barriers and dosing challenges. Women seeking testosterone for low sexual…
- Keywords: testosterone therapy, menopause symptoms, fda approval, insurance denial, off-label prescribing, hypoactive sexual desire disorder, compounded cream, male gel packets, news, politics, Women, seek
- Source: Fox News — https://foxnews.com/health/women-turn-testosterone-low-sex-drive-doctors-confront-treatment-experimentation
- Author: Khloe Quill
- Published: 2026-09-18T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: testosterone therapy, menopause symptoms, fda approval, insurance denial, off-label prescribing, hypoactive sexual desire disorder, compounded cream, male gel packets, news, politics
## Women seek testosterone for menopause symptoms
Women increasingly ask doctors about testosterone to address low sexual desire, fatigue and reduced quality of life during menopause.

> Interest in testosterone therapy has grown as more women seek treatment for symptoms such as low sexual desire, fatigue and reduced quality of life during menopause
## No FDA-approved testosterone for women
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved any testosterone product specifically for women despite growing interest in the therapy.

> When women ask their doctors about taking testosterone to help with menopause symptoms, they can run into insurance rejections, confusing workarounds and dosing guesswork since no testosterone product is FDA-approved for women in the U.S
## Doctors rely on off-label solutions
Physicians use compounded creams or micro-dosed male gels to treat women without FDA-approved testosterone products.

> The absence of FDA-approved female testosterone products forces patients to rely on compounded creams, over-the-counter purchases abroad or micro-dosed male gels
## Insurance denies coverage for testosterone
Insurance companies routinely deny coverage for testosterone therapy, forcing patients to pay out of pocket for compounded creams or male gels.

> When I was prescribed testosterone, my insurance denied coverage, and my physician recommended a compounded cream to avoid the administrative burden
## Dosing challenges with male gels
Patients using male gel packets must precisely measure tiny doses, but clinical evidence shows limited hormone level changes and symptom relief.

> Despite three months of consistency, follow-up bloodwork showed no change in hormone levels, and the patient experienced no symptom relief
## FDA workshop examines testosterone therapy
The FDA convened a public workshop to review evidence, safety and research gaps for testosterone therapy in menopausal women.

> On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) convened a public workshop to examine the evidence, safety and research gaps with testosterone therapy for menopausal women
## Doctors advocate for standardized access
Doctors emphasize that sexual health is part of overall health and urge regulatory agencies to develop safer, standardized testosterone treatments.

> Sexual health is part of your entire health
## Key takeaway

Women seeking testosterone for low sexual desire encounter insurance denials and off-label dosing solutions due to lack of FDA-approved products.