Effect of transdermal testosterone therapy on mood and cognitive symptoms in peri- and postmenopausal women: a pilot study

Sarah Glynne; Aini Kamal; Ahmed M Kamel; Dan Reisel; Louise Newson

doi:10.1007/s00737-024-01513-6

Effect of transdermal testosterone therapy on mood and cognitive symptoms in peri- and postmenopausal women: a pilot study

Arch Womens Ment Health. 2024 Sep 16. doi: 10.1007/s00737-024-01513-6. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Sarah Glynne¹, Aini Kamal², Ahmed M Kamel³, Dan Reisel^{2

4}, Louise Newson²

Affiliations

¹ Newson Health Menopause and Wellbeing Centre, Church Street, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6HB, UK. sarah.glynne@newsonhealth.co.uk.
² Newson Health Menopause and Wellbeing Centre, Church Street, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6HB, UK.
³ Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
⁴ EGA Institute for Women's Health, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, UK.

PMID: 39283522
DOI: 10.1007/s00737-024-01513-6

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of testosterone therapy on mood and cognitive symptoms in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study undertaken in a UK specialist menopause clinic. 510 women using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with persistent low libido, cognitive and negative mood symptoms were treated with testosterone cream or gel for 4 months. A modified version of the Greene Climacteric Scale was used to measure self-reported symptom frequency and severity at baseline and 4 months after initiating treatment.

Results: All nine cognitive and mood symptoms significantly improved across the study period. Mood improved more than cognition (47% of women reported an improvement in mood vs. 39% reported an improvement in cognition; 34% vs. 22% decrease in mean symptom scores, respectively). Regarding libido, 52% of women reported an improvement; mean symptom score decreased by 33%.

Conclusion: Transdermal testosterone therapy for 4 months was associated with significant improvements in mood and cognition. Further research including randomised clinical trials are needed to establish the long-term efficacy and safety of testosterone for the treatment of menopausal cognitive and psychological symptoms.

Keywords: Cognition; Hormone replacement therapy; Menopause; Mental health; Mood; Testosterone.