We were pleased to see that Androfeme® 1, a testosterone cream made specifically for postmenopausal women, has now been registered for use in New Zealand.

Testosterone can sometimes help women during peri- and post-menopause, particularly when low sexual desire is causing distress (known as Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, or HSDD). It is not routinely recommended for other menopause symptoms like low mood, energy, or brain fog.
You can read more about when testosterone treatment is appropriate for women in our article here.

Androfeme® 1 is a 1% testosterone cream that is applied once daily to the skin, using a special applicator to measure the right amount. It has been carefully developed and studied for use in women and is already registered in Australia for the same purpose.

Having a female-specific testosterone option now registered in New Zealand is a positive step. Previously, women who needed testosterone had to use products designed for men, often in much smaller doses — which can be less safe and harder to manage.

At this stage, however, Androfeme® 1 is not funded by Pharmac, so it will still involve private cost (normal doctor’s fees plus the cost of the cream).

What about Testogel?

If you are wondering about Testogel — the testosterone gel recently funded in New Zealand for use in men — we discuss this in detail in our separate article here, including why we do not routinely recommend Testogel for women.

Important points about testosterone treatment for women:

• Testosterone cream can be considered for women with menopausal HSDD, after other possible causes have been looked at, and usually as an addition to standard oestrogen-containing menopausal hormone therapy.
• Blood tests should be done before starting treatment, and again after 6 weeks, to make sure levels are in the safe range.
• Doses should be adjusted carefully — more is not better.
• If there is no benefit after six months of treatment, it is usually recommended to stop.

Our Perspective:

The registration of Androfeme® 1 gives women and their doctors a licensed, purpose-designed option for managing low sexual desire after menopause. However, there is still a long way to go in making hormone treatments for women as available and affordable.
We continue to support efforts to improve access to safe, evidence-based treatments for women in Aotearoa.

Note:

We do not have funded affiliations with manufacturers or distributors of Androfeme, or any other medications/treatments mentioned above. This article reflects our clinical experience as endocrinologists, our review of the available evidence, and communications with international colleagues.

For more updates on hormone health, visit erhassociates.co.nz or follow us @erhassociatesnz.