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No testosterone product is FDA-approved for women in the US, and many menopause telehealth platforms do not prescribe it. It is also a Schedule III controlled substance. Here is what the evidence actually supports, which providers prescribe it, and what to do if yours does not.
Testosterone is the menopause treatment women are most often refused, most often misled about, and most often sold badly. If you have been told it is not a women's hormone, or been quoted a price by a clinic that could not explain what it was actually prescribing, this guide is the straight version.
Three facts change everything else in this article. There is no FDA-approved testosterone product for women in the United States. Testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance, which makes remote prescribing legally heavier than for estrogen. And as a result, most menopause telehealth platforms will not prescribe it at all, including several that market a "full hormone menu".
Two online services prescribe testosterone to women
Midi: 24 states and DC, a compounded cream, visits billable to most PPO plans (Medicare patients pay out of pocket). Hone Health: 33 states for women's hormone care, from $65 test, then $155/mo membership + medication. Compare them
The Midi link is not paid: we earn nothing if you choose Midi. The Hone Health link is a partner link: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
This matters because it determines whether a clinician will prescribe for you, and it is narrower than the internet suggests.
The 2019 Global Consensus Position Statement on testosterone therapy for women, endorsed by the major menopause and endocrine societies, concluded that the only evidence-based indication is hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in postmenopausal women. The International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health published clinical practice guidance in 2021, and The Menopause Society added practical guidance in 2023, all pointing the same way.
What the trials show, at doses producing testosterone levels in the normal premenopausal range: a moderate benefit, averaging around one additional satisfying sexual event per month over placebo, with improvements in desire, arousal, orgasm and sexual pleasure.
What the evidence does not currently support is testosterone for energy, mood, cognition, muscle mass or general wellbeing in women. Those are the claims that sell pellets. They are not backed by the trial data, and a clinician who leads with them is not following the guidance.
On safety: no serious adverse events have been seen at physiologic doses, but long-term safety has not been established. That is a genuine unknown rather than a reassurance.
Because it is a controlled substance with no approved female product, every prescription is off-label, using either a compounded preparation or a small fraction of a product approved for men. That combination means more regulatory exposure, more monitoring obligation, and more dosing risk for the prescriber. Most telehealth platforms decide it is not worth it.
The practical consequence is that you should ask before you subscribe, not after. Do not rely on a directory listing or a marketing page, including ours.
Two online services prescribe testosterone to women
Midi: 24 states and DC, a compounded cream, visits billable to most PPO plans (Medicare patients pay out of pocket). Hone Health: 33 states for women's hormone care, from $65 test, then $155/mo membership + medication. Compare them
The Midi link is not paid: we earn nothing if you choose Midi. The Hone Health link is a partner link: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Since DHEA is what several platforms substitute, it deserves a straight assessment rather than a dismissal.
DHEA is a precursor your body can convert into both androgens and estrogens. The strongest evidence for it is vaginal DHEA (prasterone), which is FDA-approved for moderate to severe painful sex due to menopause, and works locally on the vaginal tissue. That is a real, approved treatment with good evidence for that specific problem.
Oral DHEA supplementation is a weaker proposition. Evidence for improving libido systemically is limited, conversion varies a lot between individuals, and supplement-grade DHEA is not FDA-regulated for potency.
So: if your main problem is painful sex or vaginal symptoms, DHEA is a legitimate answer and may be a better one than testosterone. If your main problem is genuinely absent desire and everything else has been addressed, DHEA is not an equivalent substitute, and you should look for a prescriber who will discuss testosterone properly. Our guide on getting vaginal estrogen online covers the local-treatment options in full.
If testosterone is what you want, ask any prospective provider one question before paying: "Do you prescribe testosterone for women, in what form, and how do you monitor levels?" A clear answer tells you a great deal. Evasion tells you more.
If your underlying goal is a functioning hormone plan rather than testosterone specifically, start with the foundation. Getting estrogen and progesterone right resolves a large share of the symptoms testosterone gets asked about, and it is far easier to obtain. Our ranked comparison of online HRT providers covers who prescribes what, and our guide to starting HRT without bloodwork explains what a legitimate intake looks like.
Get testosterone prescribed online
There is no FDA-approved testosterone product for women in the US, so it is prescribed off-label. The evidence supports it for one use: low sexual desire that bothers you (HSDD), after a clinician has assessed you. These online services prescribe it to women. Each covers different states, so check yours first.
Midi Health
A low-dose compounded testosterone cream from a virtual menopause clinic. Midi says most women have two video visits, with baseline blood tests, before a prescription, and only if a clinician decides it is appropriate.
The cream starts at $100 for a 90-day supply. Visits can be billed to insurance (Midi is in-network with most PPO plans) or cost $250 for the first visit self-pay; Medicare is self-pay only.
That evidence comes from trials of standardized, non-compounded testosterone used on the skin at doses that keep levels in the normal female range. The same international consensus does not recommend compounded testosterone, like Midi's cream, because its efficacy and safety have not been shown; it suggests small doses of an approved men's product instead, with blood levels checked. Ask any provider which product you would get and how your levels will be monitored.
Offered in 24 states and DC: AZ, CA, CO, DC, DE, FL, IA, IL, IN, KS, MA, MD, ME, NC, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, TX, UT, VA and WA.
Not a paid link: we earn nothing if you choose Midi.
Hone Health
Prescribes testosterone to women online, after a blood test.
From $65 test, then $155/mo membership + medication.
33 states for women's hormone care.
Partner link: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Neither covers your state, or you would rather see someone in person? Find a clinic near you or compare online options.
Some links above are partnerships. If you start care through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Partners we can earn from may be shown first in some lists, but commission never changes the facts we report about any provider.
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This article is for education, not medical advice. For authoritative, non-commercial information on menopause and hormone therapy, see:
The information on FindMyHRT is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
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