Women’s testosterone prescriptions surge amid pharmacy refusals and insurance gaps

Off-label testosterone therapy for menopausal women, primarily to treat low sexual desire, has increased by more than double since early 2023, reflecting growing interest in hormone treatments. With no FDA-approved formulation for women, clinicians must adapt male-dose products, prompting pharmacies like Amazon to refuse certain prescriptions under a recently introduced policy. Providers are resorting to compounding pharmacies, which raise costs from about $30 to $100 for a three-month supply, while most insurers refuse coverage.

Patients such as a 55-year-old graphic designer have spent weeks navigating discount coupons and pharmacy hurdles. The FDA plans a public workshop to review evidence, and over 30 clinical trials are in progress, including a forthcoming sexual-dysfunction study by Marius Pharmaceuticals. Experts call for a women-specific testosterone product to simplify prescribing and improve safety monitoring.