Health · Medical Research · 4 hrs ago
Study links testosterone therapy for menopause to higher heart risks
Researchers linked testosterone therapy to more heart problems in menopausal women, including heart attack, stroke and heart failure.
The study examined health data from more than 6,300 women aged 45 and older, about half of whom had received testosterone.
The hormone is sometimes prescribed off-label for persistent low sexual desire, though it is not routinely recommended for older women.
Nearly 4% of women who received testosterone had a higher risk of heart problems, compared with 0.5% of those who did not.
The findings show an association, not proof that testosterone caused the problems, and the study was retrospective.
The results raise questions about cardiovascular safety, an important concern because heart disease is the leading cause of death among women.
The findings were presented at a medical meeting and are preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal; researchers say more prospective studies are needed.
A study linked testosterone therapy used during menopause to a higher risk of cardiovascular problems in women.
Nearly 4% of women who received testosterone had an increased risk of heart problems, compared with 0.5% of women who did not.
Researchers analyzed health data from more than 6,300 menopausal women aged 45 or older.
Testosterone is not routinely recommended for older women but is prescribed off-label for low sexual desire.
The findings were presented at The Menopause Society’s annual meeting and are considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
- Who
- Researchers led by Dr. Xuezhi Daniel Jiang studied menopausal women. Dr. Stephanie Faubion commented on the findings.
- What
- Testosterone therapy was associated with higher risk of heart attack, stroke and other heart problems.
- When
- The findings were reported on October 20, 2026.
- Where
- The Menopause Society’s annual meeting in San Diego.
- Why
- Researchers analyzed the data to assess possible risks from testosterone’s off-label use for low sexual desire.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The study findings were reported at The Menopause Society’s annual meeting.
The Menopause Society’s annual meeting continued in San Diego.
- Study population
- More than 6,300 menopausal women aged 45 or older
- Testosterone users
- Approximately half of the study participants had received a testosterone prescription
- Cardiovascular risk
- Nearly 4% among women who received testosterone; 0.5% among those who did not
- Study period
- Five years
- Presentation
- The Menopause Society’s annual meeting in San Diego
2 sources
What people are saying
Our findings identify a potentially important cardiovascular safety signal associated with testosterone therapy in postmenopausal women
Although absolute event rates were low, the consistency of the association across multiple analyses warrants further prospective investigation
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in women, and studies like this are important because long-term safety data on testosterone use in women are lacking
The findings are a reminder for health professionals to carefully balance individual risks and benefits when prescribing testosterone