Today, Explained Everyone is on testosterone
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Oct 31, 2025 
Susan Dominus, a Staff writer at The New York Times Magazine, discusses the rising trend of women taking testosterone for enhanced libido, mood, and energy. She contrasts medically advised doses with high doses that can lead to dramatic side effects like irritability and hair changes. Meanwhile, journalist Rebecca Jackson reveals the booming market of testosterone clinics targeting young men, highlighting the promotion of non-therapeutic T use by influencers and the associated health risks like aggression and potential infertility.
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Testosterone Basics And Women's Decline
- Testosterone exists in both sexes and declines with age, with women having about half their earlier levels by 60.
- Restoring midlife women's testosterone to younger levels can improve libido, mood, and energy in the short term.
Divergent Female Experiences
- Some women on standard doses report modest libido restoration and improved intimacy with partners.
- Others taking high doses (pellets/creams) experience intense sex drives and unpredictable side effects like facial hair or hair loss.
Regulatory Gap Fuels A Private Market
- Testosterone is not FDA-approved for women at any dose, so insurers typically don't cover it.
- That lack of approval creates a profitable market for clinics and spas to sell high-dose treatments directly.