Welsh women resort to fake male identities to obtain testosterone online amid NHS shortages
Post-menopausal women in Wales are disguising themselves as men to buy testosterone from internet pharmacies because NHS prescriptions are hard to obtain.
Consultant Michelle Olver notes a sharp rise in testosterone referrals for post-menopausal women, yet prescribing practices differ widely among Wales' health boards. Because licensed female formulations are unavailable on the NHS, many women turn to male products, sometimes obtaining doses far above safe levels through online pharmacies by pretending to be male. Patients describe benefits for libido, energy and cognition, but also warn of side effects such as hair loss, voice deepening and clitoral enlargement when levels become excessive.
The Welsh government stresses that each board must provide individualized care, while experts urge proper counselling and regular monitoring. Advocacy groups like Menopals Cardiff and Vale report frequent GP refusals, pushing women toward costly private routes or fraudulent online orders.
Why it matters
It shows how gaps in public healthcare can drive vulnerable patients to risky, illegal drug purchases.
In this story
