Testosterone Dosing for Women: 0.2% Solution is Lower than 1.62% Cream

The 0.2% testosterone solution is the lower dose option compared to the 1.62% cream for women requiring testosterone therapy. 1

Understanding Testosterone Dosing for Women

Women have approximately 10-fold lower circulating testosterone levels than men, making appropriate dosing crucial to avoid virilization while maintaining therapeutic effects 2
For women, testosterone therapy typically requires about one-tenth of the male dose to enhance female sexual function while avoiding adverse effects 1
The 0.2% solution represents a lower concentration than the 1.62% cream, making it more appropriate for the lower dosing requirements of female patients 1

Testosterone plays an important role in female sexual function, particularly in stimulating sexual interest and maintaining desire 3
Women show a bell-shaped dose-response curve for testosterone, wherein exceeding a threshold dosage may result in lack of further positive sexual effects or even negative impacts 4
Common causes of low testosterone in women include age, oophorectomy, and the use of oral estrogens 3

Testosterone therapy in women is primarily used for treating hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in carefully selected postmenopausal women 5
When administering testosterone to women, close clinical and laboratory monitoring is essential to avoid supraphysiologic dosing that could lead to virilization 5
High testosterone doses in women are inevitably associated with virilization, making lower concentrations like the 0.2% solution preferable 2

Adverse effects of excessive testosterone in women include virilization, acne, and potential lipid abnormalities 2, 5
Emotional and physical side effects of excess testosterone, including aggression and virilization, may counteract the modest benefits on sexual function 4
Available evidence from large cohort studies does not show concerning cardiovascular or breast safety signals when testosterone is maintained at physiological levels for women 1

Currently, there are no testosterone formulations specifically approved by regulatory agencies for use in women in most countries, including the United States and Brazil 6, 5
Testosterone formulations approved for men are not recommended for use by women due to the significant differences in dosing requirements 6
The lack of approved formulations means that when testosterone is prescribed for women, it is typically done off-label 3

When testosterone therapy is considered for women, the 0.2% solution would be the more appropriate starting option compared to the 1.62% cream due to its lower concentration 1
Monitoring should include assessment of clinical response and watching for signs of virilization or other adverse effects 5
Treatment should be discontinued if virilization occurs, as some changes such as voice deepening may be irreversible 2