Testosterone dosing amounts in postmenopausal women?

I'm 66 and on TRT for 2 years with good results. Wife has been taking estrogen and both wonder if adding some T could help her. Would be Test cyp. From what I've read anywhere from 5-10mgs a week in one shot seems to be what most practices use. Would love to hear from the forum for feedback, input etc....

 

That’s correct, 5 to 10 mg per week. Women typically get better results in splitting the dose up twice weekly for women. Your wife may not even need the estrogen therapy anymore.

 

The Use of Testosterone in Women - Is it Worth it and Safe?

By Nelson Vergel Author of "Testosterone: A Man's Guide" There is so much confusion about the use of hormones in pre and post menopausal women, especially after the largest study ever undertaken using two female hormones was halted due to increased incidence of breast cancer in women. I...

www.excelmale.com

 

I'm 66 and on TRT for 2 years with good results. Wife has been taking estrogen and both wonder if adding some T could help her. Would be Test cyp. From what I've read anywhere from 5-10mgs a week in one shot seems to be what most practices use. Would love to hear from the forum for feedback, input etc....

Yes, 5 mg per week isn't a bad starting point, ideally in divided doses. That translates to 0.5 mg of testosterone per day, which is perhaps a little high relative to natural production, with various sources suggesting 0.1-0.4 mg. It's possible that adding testosterone will also increase estradiol, so some rebalancing may be needed.

If you don't mind sharing, what is her current protocol? I'm curious if it includes progesterone.

 

Yes, 5 mg per week isn't a bad starting point, ideally in divided doses. That translates to 0.5 mg of testosterone per day, which is perhaps a little high relative to natural production, with various sources suggesting 0.1-0.4 mg. It's possible that adding testosterone will also increase estradiol, so some rebalancing may be needed.

If you don't mind sharing, what is her current protocol? I'm curious if it includes progesterone.

Thanks for responding. No progesterone as of now. Has been using a estradiol vaginal cream 3x/wk .1/gm, but not sure how much she applies. Also takes DHEA 25mg 2× a day DIM 3×/wk. And started test cyp 4-5mg once a week about a month ago. Pretty happy with the results and are going to get labs done out of pocket.
She had a hysterectomy 30 years ago and was very miserable (we've been together for 17 years)

 

Thanks for responding. No progesterone as of now. Has been using a estradiol vaginal cream 3x/wk .1/gm, but not sure how much she applies. Also takes DHEA 25mg 2× a day DIM 3×/wk. And started test cyp 4-5mg once a week about a month ago. Pretty happy with the results and are going to get labs done out of pocket.
She had a hysterectomy 30 years ago and was very miserable (we've been together for 17 years)

Does estradiol vaginal cream have any effect on her libido? Does it make sex easier/less painful for her?

 

1

Does estradiol vaginal cream have any effect on her libido? Does it make sex easier/less painful for her?

Yes, the cream has most definitely, according to her, made it easier/less painful...more enjoyable for us both. Not really much for libido, she's pretty good there. The cream is .1mg per gram which she uses 3×/wk. So really not a ton of estradiol. Think the DHEA and T help though. Accidentally got a T dose of 8-9mg instead of the 4-5 and that most definitely increased her libido,lol. After she gets labs might up the T to 4mg 2× week.

 

Thanks for responding. No progesterone as of now. Has been using a estradiol vaginal cream 3x/wk .1/gm, but not sure how much she applies. Also takes DHEA 25mg 2× a day DIM 3×/wk. And started test cyp 4-5mg once a week about a month ago. Pretty happy with the results and are going to get labs done out of pocket.
She had a hysterectomy 30 years ago and was very miserable (we've been together for 17 years)

Thanks for the added information. In my understanding, progesterone isn't essential for her both because there's no uterus to respond to estradiol and because the vaginal cream has limited systemic activity. It's different for women with a uterus starting systemic HRT, and I'm curious about how the dose of progesterone is selected to avoid problems.

 

We explored 5mg-12mg per week range but she more or less feels the same. So decided to explore a bit higher range and using T-Prop. 5mg EOD which is a fairly large dose. I need to check notes how many weeks she been on this protocol but lately she been saying some chest discomfort so will titrate back lower and switch back to pharma grade test as this is UGL prop FWIW. Might be underdosed, might be overdosed and might be absolutely fuck knows what. We love some experiments haha. Anyway we will settle down in 5-10mg range and explore one more time with a bit more precise dosing as the solution that I have is 250mg/ml and its hard to inject required amount even with the miniscule 0.3ml syringe. Remember when I chated with some dude who had a TRT/HRT clinic he said most of his woman find great relief at 5-10mg per week using 1 injection. I think we came to the similar conclusion but will explore once again just to be sure at what dose she feels the best as she also changed her E delivery method due to failure of the previous two.

 

I recently started my wife on 10mg Test cyp once a week. It's been about 6 weeks now. I'll post back when I get some feedback from her. Her starting blood level was 25 ng/dl. I'm following a reddit forum for female TRT and they have a survey showing most women like T levels at 150 give or take even though this is above lab ranges.

 

I recently started my wife on 10mg Test cyp once a week. It's been about 6 weeks now. I'll post back when I get some feedback from her. Her starting blood level was 25 ng/dl. I'm following a reddit forum for female TRT and they have a survey showing most women like T levels at 150 give or take even though this is above lab ranges.

What is the lab range for women?

 

I see on Reddit that many women feel way better on Prop vs Cyp or Enan, and some prefer cream, while some are sensitive to DHT from skin A5R activity

 

What is the lab range for women?

Like men many women feel best above the established range when androgenic sides are minimal or non-existent.
For example I feel much better >1500 than I did <1000 total with still normal HCT 47 and 59 SHBG bp 115/75 etc...no HCG or AI

 

I searched the forum for any related information:

** Forum Insights – ExcelMale (HRT Forum)**

• “Normal testosterone production in women is on the order of 500 mcg per day, equivalent to 5 mg T cypionate per week, though 2.5 mg twice-weekly would make for more stable levels.”
  Excel Male Men's Health Forum
• “20 mg total weekly is likely approaching supraphysiological levels for most women. Closer to 10-15 mg is closer to what women need.”
  Excel Male Men's Health Forum
• A user reported positive results:
  “My wife is on 10 mg test cyp weekly. That dose gives her a total T level of about 120, which is a slightly supraphysiological level. I believe studies have shown that women require a mild supraphysiological level to achieve libido benefits, and her doctor agrees.”
  Excel Male Men's Health Forum
• From a 2025 thread, a direct engagement with your question:
  “That’s correct, 5 to 10 mg per week. Women typically get better results in splitting the dose up twice weekly…”
  Excel Male Men's Health Forum
• Moderator Cataceous added:
  “5 mg per week isn’t a bad starting point, ideally in divided doses. That translates to 0.5 mg of testosterone per day, which is perhaps a little high relative to natural production (0.1-0.4 mg). It’s possible that adding testosterone will also increase estradiol.”
  Excel Male Men's Health Forum

 

A review in PMC (Uloko et al., 2022) on testosterone gel suggests a female equivalent starting dose for HSDD of approximately 5 mg/day, using one tube of gel every 10 days (0.5 ml). Dose may increase to 10 mg/day based on labs and symptoms.
PMC

 

More information: cypionate dose protocols for woman - Excel Male Men's Health Forum

 

Oral testosterone undecanoate: Effectiveness of a low dose oral testosterone undecanoate to improve sexual function in postmenopausal women - Excel Male Health Forum

 

Here is what women on forums report using, with real-world doses and examples.


Injections, testosterone cypionate:

• Typical forum range, 5 to 10 mg per week, split into 2 or 3 micro-doses. Example, “4 to 5 mg every 3.5 days,” total 8 to 10 mg per week. Excel Male Men's Health Forum Reddit
• Many advise avoiding large monthly shots. Example warning on 100 mg every 2 weeks as “way too much,” suggesting single-digit mg micro-dosing instead. Reddit
• Examples you can benchmark:
  
  • 7.5 mg and 10 mg twice weekly, about 15 to 20 mg per week total. Reported by a spouse regarding his wife using 50 mg/mL cypionate. T NATION
  • 6 mg every 3.5 days after trying 10 mg every 3.5 days. User reduced due to side effects. Reddit

Cream or gel, transdermal:

• Common starting point on forums, about 5 mg per day from 1 percent cream or gel, adjusted by symptoms and labs. Users often describe “pea-sized” daily dosing from Testogel sachets. Reddit menopausematters.co.uk
• AndroFeme examples, 0.5 mL daily equals 5 mg testosterone. Women report 2 to 5 mg per day as steady, some go higher with monitoring. NPS Australia News-Medical
• What users say in threads:
  
  • “Half-pump daily” on 1 percent gel, or “one pump 3x per week,” with several aiming for about one-tenth of a male dose. Reddit
  • 2.5 mg per day from a 1 percent tube, measured by weight, with libido and energy benefits reported. Reddit

Pellets, subcutaneous implants:

• Reported insertion doses cluster between 75 and 150 mg per procedure, with outliers up to about 200 mg, typically every 3 to 4 months. Forum anecdotes include first doses of 119 mg and 125 mg. Katherine Swing, MD Reddit+1
• A 2025 research report in women compared 75 mg vs 100 mg pellets and tracked levels and safety, which mirrors what users discuss around these sizes. PMC
• Forum takeaways you should weigh:
  
  • Dose is fixed until the next procedure, so you cannot titrate if you get side effects. Several users preferred gels or injections for easier dose changes. Reddit

Oral testosterone undecanoate, Andriol or similar:

• True forum reports in postmenopausal women are rare. You will mostly find gel, cream, injections, or pellets discussed. When oral TU comes up, users reference older or clinical sources more than first-hand logs. Reddit
• Clinical context forum users cite, which helps you frame expectations:
  
  • Capsules are 40 mg each. Older studies in postmenopausal women used 40 mg twice weekly or short daily courses, with mixed metabolic effects. These data points surface in threads when people ask about oral options. NPS Australia PMC Lippincott

What you should do with this:

• Start on the low end of the forum ranges, reassess every 6 to 8 weeks, and adjust based on symptoms and labs.
  
  • Injections, try 2 to 5 mg twice weekly, total 4 to 10 mg per week. Increase slowly only if symptoms persist and labs are low. Excel Male Men's Health Forum Reddit
  • Cream or gel, try about 2 to 5 mg per day from a 1 percent product, then titrate. Users often target a daily routine rather than every-other-day. Reddit+1
  • Pellets, if you choose them, expect something near 75 to 125 mg at first, knowing you will not be able to dial back until the next cycle. PMC Katherine Swing, MD Reddit
  • Oral TU, consider that few women post sustained results on forums, and dose control is harder because absorption varies with fat content of meals. NPS Australia

Representative forum snippets, for calibration:

• “Start with 4 to 5 mg cypionate every 3.5 days, total 8 mg per week.” Reddit
• “Half-pump daily of 1 percent gel,” or “one pump three times a week.” Reddit
• “First pellet was 125 mg, took a couple of weeks to kick in.” Reddit

Notes from patterns you will see:

• Micro-dosing and splitting injections reduce swings and side effects. Users often move from monthly or biweekly shots to smaller, more frequent doses. Reddit
• Many women report dose sweet spots well below male replacement doses, and warn others when clinicians start too high. Reddit
• Pellets deliver convenience but remove control. Gels and injections allow you to adjust when acne, hair changes, or water retention show up. Reddit

 

Here is what women on forums report using, with real-world doses and examples.


Injections, testosterone cypionate:

• Typical forum range, 5 to 10 mg per week, split into 2 or 3 micro-doses. Example, “4 to 5 mg every 3.5 days,” total 8 to 10 mg per week. Excel Male Men's Health Forum Reddit
• Many advise avoiding large monthly shots. Example warning on 100 mg every 2 weeks as “way too much,” suggesting single-digit mg micro-dosing instead. Reddit
• Examples you can benchmark:
  • 7.5 mg and 10 mg twice weekly, about 15 to 20 mg per week total. Reported by a spouse regarding his wife using 50 mg/mL cypionate. T NATION
  • 6 mg every 3.5 days after trying 10 mg every 3.5 days. User reduced due to side effects. Reddit

Cream or gel, transdermal:

• Common starting point on forums, about 5 mg per day from 1 percent cream or gel, adjusted by symptoms and labs. Users often describe “pea-sized” daily dosing from Testogel sachets. Reddit menopausematters.co.uk
• AndroFeme examples, 0.5 mL daily equals 5 mg testosterone. Women report 2 to 5 mg per day as steady, some go higher with monitoring. NPS Australia News-Medical
• What users say in threads:
  • “Half-pump daily” on 1 percent gel, or “one pump 3x per week,” with several aiming for about one-tenth of a male dose. Reddit
  • 2.5 mg per day from a 1 percent tube, measured by weight, with libido and energy benefits reported. Reddit

Pellets, subcutaneous implants:

• Reported insertion doses cluster between 75 and 150 mg per procedure, with outliers up to about 200 mg, typically every 3 to 4 months. Forum anecdotes include first doses of 119 mg and 125 mg. Katherine Swing, MD Reddit+1
• A 2025 research report in women compared 75 mg vs 100 mg pellets and tracked levels and safety, which mirrors what users discuss around these sizes. PMC
• Forum takeaways you should weigh:
  • Dose is fixed until the next procedure, so you cannot titrate if you get side effects. Several users preferred gels or injections for easier dose changes. Reddit

Oral testosterone undecanoate, Andriol or similar:

• True forum reports in postmenopausal women are rare. You will mostly find gel, cream, injections, or pellets discussed. When oral TU comes up, users reference older or clinical sources more than first-hand logs. Reddit
• Clinical context forum users cite, which helps you frame expectations:
  • Capsules are 40 mg each. Older studies in postmenopausal women used 40 mg twice weekly or short daily courses, with mixed metabolic effects. These data points surface in threads when people ask about oral options. NPS Australia PMC Lippincott

What you should do with this:

• Start on the low end of the forum ranges, reassess every 6 to 8 weeks, and adjust based on symptoms and labs.
  • Injections, try 2 to 5 mg twice weekly, total 4 to 10 mg per week. Increase slowly only if symptoms persist and labs are low. Excel Male Men's Health Forum Reddit
  • Cream or gel, try about 2 to 5 mg per day from a 1 percent product, then titrate. Users often target a daily routine rather than every-other-day. Reddit+1
  • Pellets, if you choose them, expect something near 75 to 125 mg at first, knowing you will not be able to dial back until the next cycle. PMC Katherine Swing, MD Reddit
  • Oral TU, consider that few women post sustained results on forums, and dose control is harder because absorption varies with fat content of meals. NPS Australia

Representative forum snippets, for calibration:

• “Start with 4 to 5 mg cypionate every 3.5 days, total 8 mg per week.” Reddit
• “Half-pump daily of 1 percent gel,” or “one pump three times a week.” Reddit
• “First pellet was 125 mg, took a couple of weeks to kick in.” Reddit

Notes from patterns you will see:

• Micro-dosing and splitting injections reduce swings and side effects. Users often move from monthly or biweekly shots to smaller, more frequent doses. Reddit
• Many women report dose sweet spots well below male replacement doses, and warn others when clinicians start too high. Reddit
• Pellets deliver convenience but remove control. Gels and injections allow you to adjust when acne, hair changes, or water retention show up. Reddit

I would like to see some anecdotal reviews of the benefits (and side effects) from women on testosterone. It would be nice to hear it directly from the women themselves.

 

I would like to see some anecdotal reviews of the benefits (and side effects) from women on testosterone. It would be nice to hear it directly from the women themselves.

You won’t find any here.

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