From the Research
The starting dose of testosterone cypionate for women should be 50 mg weekly, as this dose has been shown to be effective in achieving serum testosterone levels within the normal male range while minimizing potential side effects 1. When considering testosterone therapy for women, it's essential to prioritize the lowest effective dose to minimize masculinizing side effects while providing therapeutic benefits.
- Women are more sensitive to testosterone than men, requiring significantly lower doses.
- The goal of testosterone therapy in women is to achieve serum testosterone levels within the upper range of normal female values.
- Regular blood tests should be performed to monitor testosterone levels and adjust the dose as needed.
- Potential side effects to watch for include acne, increased body hair growth, deepening of the voice, and menstrual irregularities.
- Testosterone therapy in women is often prescribed for conditions like hypoactive sexual desire disorder, postmenopausal symptoms, or certain endocrine disorders, and should always be managed by a healthcare provider experienced in hormone therapy. The most recent and highest quality study available, published in 2017, supports the use of a starting dose of 50 mg weekly of testosterone cypionate in women 1.
- This study demonstrated that serum testosterone levels within the normal male range were achieved in all patients with doses of 50 to 150 mg weekly.
- The study also showed that subcutaneous injections of testosterone cypionate were effective and well-tolerated in female-to-male transgender patients. It's worth noting that other studies have reported similar findings, but the 2017 study provides the most recent and highest quality evidence to support the recommended starting dose of 50 mg weekly 2, 3.
- A 2023 study found that the cumulative incidence of hematocrit >50.4% was 12.6% in people taking injectable testosterone cypionate, with a median dose of 100 mg weekly 3.
- A 2014 study demonstrated that subcutaneous delivery of testosterone cypionate was effective and well-tolerated in female-to-male transgender youth, with an average dose of 46.4 mg per week 2.