Do Women Need Testosterone? Hormones, Energy, and Libido

The role testosterone plays in women, symptoms of imbalance, and why testosterone therapy for women must be individualized and monitored by a physician in Tampa.

Reviewed by Dr. Rishi Seth, MDBoard-Certified Internal Medicine

Published May 2, 2025 · 2 min read

Hormone HealthSeth Premier Medical

The short answer

Women produce testosterone too, in smaller amounts, and it plays a role in energy, mood, libido, and muscle and bone health. Some women with low levels and matching symptoms may benefit from carefully monitored therapy, but it is an individualized decision. Levels, symptoms, and the rest of a woman's health all factor into whether treatment makes sense.

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Yes, this is something Seth Premier Medical treats. Hormone replacement therapy here is physician-supervised, for men and women, with lab work and monitoring built into the programme rather than sold separately. Care is supervised by Dr. Rishi Seth, board-certified in internal medicine, from our Carrollwood office.

Concierge membership is $299 a month and includes the physician access and visit time; program pricing and what is included are set out in full on the program page.

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What testosterone does in women

Testosterone is often thought of as a male hormone, but women produce it as well, at lower levels, and it contributes to energy, mood, sexual desire, and muscle and bone maintenance. Levels naturally decline with age and shift around the menopausal transition, which is part of why some women notice changes in these areas over time.

Because the amounts are small, the margin between too little and too much is narrow, which is exactly why this is not a do-it-yourself area.

Symptoms and why care must be individualized

Low libido, persistent fatigue, low mood, and changes in strength can have many causes, and low testosterone is only one of them. That is why a careful evaluation looks at the whole picture, including other hormones like estrogen and thyroid, rather than treating a single lab value. When therapy is appropriate, it is dosed conservatively and monitored, because too much testosterone causes its own side effects.

Approaches and the available evidence for women continue to evolve, and treatment decisions belong with a physician who can weigh your symptoms, labs, and goals. At Seth Premier Medical, hormone care starts with labs and a clinical evaluation and is monitored over time by Dr. Rishi Seth.

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Hormone Replacement Therapy at Seth Premier Medical

Physician-supervised, in Tampa, with Dr. Rishi Seth.

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Do Women Need Testosterone? Hormones, Energy, and Libido, answered.

Some women with low levels and matching symptoms may benefit from carefully monitored therapy, but it is an individualized decision based on labs, symptoms, and overall health, dosed conservatively under physician supervision.

Low libido, persistent fatigue, low mood, and changes in strength can be associated with low testosterone, but they have many possible causes. A full evaluation is needed rather than treating one lab value.

Used in low, carefully monitored doses for appropriate candidates, testosterone therapy can be safe for women. It is individualized based on labs, symptoms, and health history, and dosed conservatively under supervision.

For women with low levels and matching symptoms, potential benefits include improved libido, energy, mood, and a sense of strength. Benefits vary and are weighed against the individualized nature of treatment.

It is typically given in low doses via creams, gels, or other forms suited to the smaller amounts women need. The form and dose are chosen with your physician and adjusted by labs.

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