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Everything you need to know about Androfeme
Everything you need to know about Androfeme
AndroFeme is a testosterone cream authorised in the UK for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in postmenopausal women who are receiving optimised HRT. It is a transdermal cream, meaning it is absorbed through the skin rather than taken orally.
If you are considering Androfeme as part of your HRT plan, here is what you need to know about how to use it, its benefits, and possible side effects.
Medically reviewed by Dr Eloise Elphinstone
BMS Accredited Doctor
Reviewed: 24/09/2026 Published: 25/02/2025
The basics
Key information about Androfeme
Testosterone is an important hormone in women and plays a role in sexual function, including sexual desire, arousal and sexual response. Testosterone also has physiological roles in areas such as energy, mood, cognition, muscle and bone health.
During and after menopause, testosterone levels can change, although the extent of this varies between women. While testosterone has a range of physiological effects in the body, the strongest evidence for testosterone treatment in postmenopausal women is for improving sexual desire and sexual function in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD).
AndroFeme is a testosterone cream with a UK marketing authorisation for the treatment of HSDD in postmenopausal women who are receiving optimised HRT.
AndroFeme provides testosterone through the skin. Testosterone treatment in postmenopausal women with HSDD can improve sexual desire and aspects of sexual function.
Research is continuing into the effects of testosterone on other symptoms and aspects of health, but these are not established indications for AndroFeme.
Like all medicines, AndroFeme has potential benefits and risks. Your doctor will consider your medical history and individual circumstances before prescribing it and will monitor your response to treatment.
AndroFeme contains testosterone that is chemically identical to the testosterone naturally produced in the human body. The term “body identical” describes the molecular structure of the hormone; it does not mean that the treatment is necessarily more effective or safer than other testosterone preparations.
AndroFeme is a UK-authorised testosterone medicine with a specific licensed indication for the treatment of HSDD in postmenopausal women receiving optimised HRT.
Androfeme was given a UK MHRA licence for use in postmenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire dysfunction receiving optimised HRT, in July 2025. It is currently only available privately and should be initiated and monitored by a healthcare professional with expertise in menopause.
AndroFeme is indicated for postmenopausal women with HSDD who are receiving optimised HRT. Your clinician will assess whether testosterone treatment is appropriate for you.
If you are considering testosterone treatment, your doctor can assess your symptoms, medical history and current HRT and discuss whether AndroFeme may be appropriate for you. A prescription will only be issued if your clinician considers it clinically appropriate.
Whilst many women do start Androfeme through our service, the final prescription decision will be with the prescribing clinician. We can not guarantee any prescriptions. With testosterone in particular, the prescribing doctor will want to assess whether your oestrogen HRT is working well before adding in testosterone. They may advise adjusting the dose of oestrogen before starting testosterone medication, if you are not quite on the dose or form of oestrogen yet. This will be assessed during your consultation.
A baseline testosterone blood test is usually taken before treatment. This provides a baseline level and helps your clinician assess and monitor testosterone levels during treatment
Typically, you will need a blood test to assess your testosterone levels 3 months after starting testosterone. Then, providing your levels are normal, you will have a monitoring blood test every 12 months. However, if at any point your testosterone levels are not where they should be the doctor may require more frequent blood tests. In our clinic, you will be advised by your doctor during the consultation, and in your clinic letter letter about which blood tests you need.
Benefits of Androfeme
AndroFeme is licensed for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in postmenopausal women receiving optimised HRT.
Clinical evidence shows that testosterone treatment can improve sexual desire and aspects of sexual function in women with HSDD.
Research is continuing into the possible effects of testosterone on other symptoms and aspects of health, including energy, mood, cognition and musculoskeletal health. However, these are not established indications for AndroFeme.
In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommend considering testosterone replacement for menopausal women who experience low sexual desire if hormone replacement therapy (HRT) alone is not effective. This means that the only symptom it is technically recommended for in the UK is to treat persistent low libido.
However, there is emerging evidence that testosterone replacement in women can help other symptoms like cognitive function, bone and muscle health and energy levels but this is not yet included in the UK prescribing guidelines.
How and where to use Androfeme?
Androfeme should be applied once daily, at the same time each day for consistency. It can be used morning or evening, depending on what fits best into your routine.
Androfeme should be applied to a clean, dry, and hair-free area of skin e.g the inner thigh. Some women apply to their forearm, but this can increase the chances of transdermal transfer. Do not apply to your breasts or genitals.
Use the prescribed amount prescribed by your doctor - usually a pea-sized amount (0.5mL) per day. Massage the cream into the skin until fully absorbed.
Wait at least 10 minutes before getting dressed to prevent any cream transferring to your clothing. It is important to avoid washing, showering or swimming for at least 2 hours after applying Androfeme.
Side effects of Androfeme
Common side effects of Androfeme can include:
- Mild increase in facial or body hair (usually fine, light hair and on the application site
- Oily skin or mild acne
- Changes in mood – slight irritability or emotional shifts
- Headaches
Less Common Side Effects of Androfeme are:
- Hair thinning – this is rare but can happen if testosterone levels become too high
- Deepening of the voice – this is very uncommon at the correct female dose
Many women experience mild side effects in the first few weeks of taking Androfeme as the body adjusts to new hormone levels. These effects often settle within a few weeks and should have resolved fully by your three-month review with your doctor.
When used at the correct low doses prescribed for women, Androfeme should not cause masculinising side effects such as a deeper voice or excessive hair growth.
However, if testosterone levels become too high, some women may experience:
- Increased facial or body hair growth
- Mild acne
To ensure women’s testosterone levels do not get too high testosterone is regularly monitored with blood tests. Women will typically have their testosterone levels checked by a blood test before they start using Androfeme, 3 months after starting Androfeme and then annually (assuming that the levels were not high on any tests). If your testosterone levels do increase to a high level, your doctor may monitor you with tests more frequently.
It is not common to experience these side effects when your dose is correctly managed. If you have any concerns, speak with your doctor, who can monitor your levels and adjust your treatment as needed.
You should speak to a doctor if:
- Side effects are affecting your quality of life
- Symptoms have not improved after three months
- You experience severe side effects or have concerns
Your doctor may adjust the dose or application method to help reduce side effects and improve tolerance.
Androfeme explained
Dr. Liz Andrew explains Androfeme on one of our latest webinars all about HRT and testosterone products. You can watch the fully recorded webinar on YouTube.
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