When actress Halle Berry mentioned on The Tamsen Show podcast in March 2025 that she uses testosterone therapy, many women were surprised — even intrigued — to hear that this “male” hormone could have a place in women’s health. What she said out loud helped open a conversation that, frankly, has been missing from mainstream medicine for far too long.
The truth is, testosterone is not just for men — and estradiol is not just for women. Both hormones exist in both sexes and are essential for optimal health and vitality. Testosterone supports energy, mental clarity, mood stability, bone density, and sexual wellbeing in women, just as estradiol plays an important role in men’s cardiovascular and brain health.
When I practiced in a traditional OB/GYN setting, I too didn’t fully appreciate how critical testosterone is for women. Medical training often focuses heavily on estrogen and progesterone, usually not addressing testosterone at all. Yet testosterone levels in women begin declining as early as their mid-30s, falling steadily through the 40s and into menopause. By the time a woman reaches menopause, her testosterone level may be half or less of what it once was.
This gradual decline can bring subtle but real symptoms: fatigue, loss of motivation, decreased muscle tone, lower libido, irritability, brain fog, and even a sense of “flatness” or diminished joy. Many women describe feeling like “something is missing,” and once they begin testosterone replacement — often alongside estrogen therapy — that missing spark returns.
There are several ways to restore testosterone: topical gels or creams, injections, or small bioidentical pellets placed under the skin. It’s important to know that most commercial gels and injections were designed for men, who naturally have ten times higher testosterone levels than women. Using those products in microdoses for women can make dosing imprecise and inconsistent. Compounded topical testosterone, customized by a pharmacy for women, is a better option — but even then, absorption can vary day to day.
Pellet therapy offers an alternative that delivers steady levels for several months at a time — without the peaks and valleys of other forms. It allows dosing to be tailored precisely to each woman’s needs, which is why I often recommend it in my practice.
In my years of working with hormones, I’ve witnessed time and again how restoring testosterone can transform not just how women feel, but how they move through life — stronger, clearer, more connected to their vitality. Supporting healthy hormone balance can help women feel vibrant and resilient, and emerging research suggests it may also play a role in healthy aging. Ultimately, testosterone isn’t just a “male” hormone; it’s a vital part of helping women live fully and thrive at every stage of life.
