Compounded Testosterone for Women
What a Prescriber Can Order From Us
Testosterone for women is being discussed widely right now, and the regulatory picture behind that conversation is not well known. This page sets out what is approved, what the professional societies say, and which dosage forms we compound when a prescriber orders testosterone for a woman.
No Testosterone Product Is FDA Approved for Women in the United States
There is no testosterone product approved by the FDA for use in women in the United States. More than thirty testosterone products are approved for men. When a prescriber orders testosterone for a woman, that is an off-label decision, and it is the prescriber's to make.
On September 17, 2026, the FDA's Office of Women's Health and Center for Drug Evaluation and Research are holding a public meeting on testosterone use in menopausal women, to examine the current evidence and the gaps in it. The FDA has said those gaps include the role of testosterone in sexual function, cognition, mood and musculoskeletal health, the difficulty of measuring and interpreting testosterone levels in women, and the absence of long-term safety data, particularly on cardiovascular risk and breast cancer.
What the Global Consensus Statement Says
In 2019 an international panel convened by a group of professional societies published a Global Consensus Position Statement on testosterone therapy for women. Its central finding is narrow. The only evidence-based indication it identifies is the treatment of postmenopausal women diagnosed with hypoactive sexual desire disorder following a formal biopsychosocial assessment.
The same statement concludes that there is insufficient evidence to support the use of testosterone in postmenopausal women for cognition, bone health, mood or general wellbeing.
It also recommends against any testosterone preparation that results in higher than physiologic concentrations, naming pellets and injections specifically, and it advises that treatment aim for concentrations in the range that is normal for premenopausal women, with laboratory monitoring.
We are a pharmacy, not a prescriber. We set out what the statement says because it is the document most prescribers are working from. Whether any of it applies to you is a conversation with your own prescriber.
The Dosage Forms We Compound
When a prescriber orders testosterone for a woman, we prepare it as a hypoallergenic cream or an olive oil base topical, at the strength the prescriber specifies. The hypoallergenic cream is made without the dyes and preservatives some patients react to, and the olive oil base is an alternative for patients who cannot tolerate a cream base. The cream is dispensed in a Unodose applicator, which delivers one pre-measured dose at a time at the strength on your prescription. We also prepare vaginal preparations, and we can compound a topical gel if a prescriber or clinic requests one.
Every preparation is made to order at our pharmacy in Johnson City, Tennessee, and a pharmacist reviews the formulation before it is made.
What we do not make: hormone pellets of any hormone at any strength, injectables of any kind, hormone patches, troches and lozenges. Testosterone is also poorly absorbed when it is taken by mouth, so we do not compound it as a tablet or an oral capsule. It is worth knowing that before a prescription is written.
Your Prescriber Sets the Strength
The prescription specifies the amount, and we prepare it to that specification. Because each one is made individually, a change is straightforward — if your prescriber adjusts the strength, send us the new prescription and we will prepare it to match.
If your prescriber would like to talk through the dosage forms available before writing a prescription, our pharmacists are glad to take that call. Details are on our prescriber page.
If You Have Been Reading About This Online
Testosterone for women is having a moment in the press and on social media. Some of what is being said reflects the consensus statement above, and some of it runs well ahead of it.
Two things are worth carrying into a conversation with your prescriber. There is no FDA approved testosterone product for women in the United States, and the evidence base the professional societies rely on is narrower than the general discussion suggests. Neither of those makes testosterone wrong for you. Both are your prescriber's to weigh.
Where to Go Next
Women's Health Compounding
The full range of preparations we compound for women, and the hormones a prescriber can order from us.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
How bioidentical hormone therapy works, the delivery methods we offer, and hormone testing.
Choosing a Hormone Compounding Pharmacy
What to look for, what to ask, and how to tell one compounding pharmacy from another.
How to Ask Your Doctor About Compounded Medication
How to raise it with your prescriber, and what needs to be on the prescription.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is testosterone approved by the FDA for women?
No. There is no testosterone product approved by the FDA for use in women in the United States, though more than thirty are approved for men. Testosterone prescribed for a woman is an off-label decision made by the prescriber, which is both common and legal.
Do you compound testosterone pellets for women?
No. We do not compound hormone pellets of any hormone at any strength, or injectables of any kind. For women, testosterone is most often prepared as a hypoallergenic cream or an olive oil base topical. We also prepare vaginal preparations, and we can compound a topical gel if a prescriber or clinic requests one.
What dosage forms can my prescriber order?
A hypoallergenic cream or an olive oil base topical, which are the forms most often used for women, or a vaginal preparation. A topical gel can be compounded if your prescriber asks for one. Testosterone is poorly absorbed when it is taken by mouth, so we do not prepare it as a tablet or an oral capsule.
Do I need a prescription?
Yes. Testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance, so a prescription from a licensed prescriber is required and the ordinary controlled-substance rules apply. We do not prescribe.
Will you tell me what my testosterone level should be?
No. Your prescriber orders and interprets lab work and decides what to aim for. We prepare the medication your prescriber prescribes.
Can you ship to my state?
We are licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. We compound at our pharmacy in Johnson City, Tennessee and ship from there.
How long does it take?
We have a 48-hour compounding time on most preparations. Shipping time is additional and varies by destination. A member of our team confirms the price with you before anything is processed, made, or shipped.
Talk With Your Prescriber
We Prepare What Your Prescriber Orders
Talk to your provider about whether testosterone is appropriate for you. If they would like to send us a prescription, our details are on our prescriber page, and you can transfer an existing prescription to us.