More women are taking testosterone for mood, muscles, and sex drive. But is it safe?

Social media does a very good job of introducing us to new trends, whether it’s Gen Z slang or a new health-focused tool that could make our lives better. But just because something goes mega-viral and accumulates a lot of praise doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good habit or behavior that we should widely adopt.

That may be the case for women taking testosterone—a popular health trend that has been blowing up both online and in women’s daily lives.

Testosterone has long been given to aging men to combat things like hair loss and low libido, and increase muscle strength and energy. But in recent years, it’s also become more popular among women. According to NBC News, recent data from health technology company IQVIA shows that there’s been an almost 50% increase in women taking testosterone in the past decade (from 2013 to 2023).

According to the Mayo Clinic, testosterone in males peaks during early adulthood and gradually declines, with men losing about 1% of their testosterone a year starting in their 30s or 40s. But women, whose bodies also rely on testosterone but make less of it, lose it as they age, too. Women who have taken birth control or other medications containing estrogen, or have certain conditions, may also be at higher risk for low testosterone levels. That could impact energy levels, disrupt sleep, lead to mood changes, and more.

Many of those changes are common during menopause, so it makes sense that women who aren’t feeling their best are seeking an up-and-coming form of treatment. Hormone replacement therapy (commonly estrogen and progesterone) is often given to menopausal women.

But on social media, there is now a growing segment of women calling testosterone an absolute game changer.

Hundreds of videos on Instagram and TikTok show women talking about how it has changed their lives for the better. “I’ve seen a difference with my libido and with my muscle,” one TikTik user, Tasmen Fadal, shares in a video. “It has honestly changed my life,” another called WonkyTonkWoman says, adding that her “brain works again” and her “anxiety is pretty much gone.”

Some even document their journey from the start, showing them getting pellet inserts placed by doctors, then keeping followers up to date on their progress.

The risks of testosterone therapy for women

But others are examining the downsides of the treatment. One doctor on TikTok noted the fact that because there isn’t enough research on women taking testosterone, determining the safe dosage can be a challenge.

In the video, Dr. Breanne Kallonen, a naturopathic doctor, explains that she’s seen women’s labs come back with very elevated levels of testosterone. While she says many patients see benefits, she’s also seen patients whose hair is falling out. If the research isn’t there, she ponders, “can and should we still be doing it?”

In another video, integrative medicine doctor Dr. Jamie Gilliam tells followers she would never tell anyone to go on hormone replacement therapy without getting labs including a full hormone panel. She also notes that not everyone is a candidate due to past medical history, and says others may “require close monitoring” while on hormones.

But because many women are reporting amazing results online—they say they stopped struggling with sleep, have tons of energy, want to have sex again, can tone their muscles, and can more easily lose weight—more women who have seen the content are asking for testosterone from their doctor.

“It feels almost like an epidemic,” Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su, chief medical officer for Gennev, a national telemedicine company for menopause patients, told NBC News about the number of women who now want testosterone. “They’re being told this is the miracle-drug pill that they’ve been looking for,” she added.

Currently, there is no Food and Drug Administration–approved source of testosterone for women, so it’s still considered off-label. Women should be careful to avoid websites that sell testosterone without a prescription. And aside from the possibility of hair loss, there are other risks that come with the treatment, too.

“Acne, voice deepening, and changes to their menstrual cycle” are just some of the symptoms women taking testosterone may experience, neuroendocrinologist Dr. Juan Dominguez tells Fast Company. (His work “studies how hormones impact behavior,” as he puts it.) More serious issues include higher rates of breast cancer and heart problems, as well as blood clotting issues.

“The body has its own system for controlling levels of endogenous hormones, introducing changes to that system can easily throw off this balance,” Dominguez adds.

Worryingly, the rates at which testosterone is now being taken might seem to suggest that there is little risk—similar to taking an herbal supplement like L-theanine or magnesium (both which can improve sleep quality). But while there may be a lot of positives, testosterone treatment for women is not something that should be done without caution and the care of a qualified professional, says Dominguez.