Female Testosterone Therapy (TRT) for Perimenopause & Menopause
Restore libido, energy, strength, and mental clarity — without being dismissed or overmedicated.
If you feel like you’ve lost a part of yourself — your drive, your strength, your spark — you’re not imagining it.
Many women in perimenopause and menopause are told their labs are “normal,” offered antidepressants, or reassured that low libido and exhaustion are just part of aging. What’s often missing from that conversation is testosterone.
At Feminine Functional Medicine, we offer evidence-based, physiologic testosterone therapy for women, guided by symptoms, labs, and your unique biology — not fear or outdated myths.
Testosterone Is Not a “Male Hormone”
Testosterone is an essential hormone for women. It’s produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands and plays a critical role in:
-Libido and sexual responsiveness
-Energy and motivation
-Muscle strength and recovery
-Cognitive clarity and focus
-Mood resilience and confidence
During perimenopause, testosterone often declines earlier and more sharply than estrogen, yet it’s rarely tested or addressed. When it’s ignored, women are left feeling flat, tired, disconnected, and frustrated.
Signs Low Testosterone May Be Affecting You
You don’t need to have “zero testosterone” for symptoms to appear. Many women experience symptoms even when labs fall within conventional reference ranges.
Common signs include:
-Loss of libido or sexual interest
-Fatigue that doesn’t improve with sleep
-Decreased strength or muscle tone
-Exercise intolerance or slow recovery
-Brain fog or low motivation
-Feeling emotionally flat or unlike yourself
If estrogen and progesterone haven’t fully resolved your symptoms, testosterone may be the missing piece.
Why Testosterone Is Often Overlooked in Women
Testosterone therapy for women is misunderstood — even within menopause care.
Common reasons it’s missed:
-It’s not routinely taught in conventional training
-There is fear-based prescribing without nuance
-Many providers don’t know how to dose for female physiology
-Symptoms are misattributed to depression or stress
As a functional medicine doctor specializing in women’s hormones, I take a root-cause, physiology-first approach — not a one-size-fits-all protocol.
How Testosterone Therapy Is Done in Our Practice
Testosterone therapy should be intentional, personalized, and carefully monitored.
-We use low-dose, female-physiologic testosterone
-Dosing is guided by symptoms and labs
-We prioritize transdermal creams (not aggressive dosing)
-We monitor for benefits and side effects
-Therapy is adjusted over time — not set and forgotten
This is not about pushing numbers high. It’s about helping you feel strong, clear, and connected again.
Is Testosterone Therapy Safe for Women?
When prescribed correctly, testosterone therapy for women is well tolerated and reversible.
Potential side effects (dose-dependent and monitored):
-Acne
-Hair changes
-Voice changes (rare at physiologic doses)
We avoid:
-Supraphysiologic dosing
-One-size-fits-all protocols
-Pellet-first approaches without clear indication
Safety comes from appropriate dosing, education, and follow-up — not avoidance.
Testosterone vs Antidepressants in Midlife Women
Many women are offered antidepressants for symptoms that are actually hormonal:
-Low desire
-Fatigue
-Emotional flattening
-Loss of motivation
While antidepressants can be appropriate in some cases, they do not address hormone-driven changes in libido, muscle, or energy.
Testosterone therapy targets the underlying physiology, not just symptom suppression.
Why Work With Feminine Functional Medicine
Dr. Erin Thorne
