Testosterone Patch Dosing for Women

Application and Administration

Testosterone patches are typically applied to dry, intact skin of the back, abdomen, upper thighs, or upper arms 1, 2
Peak testosterone levels occur 6-8 hours after patch application 2

For women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), transdermal patches releasing 50-100 μg of 17β-estradiol daily are often combined with testosterone therapy 3, 4
Transdermal delivery avoids first-pass hepatic metabolism, providing more stable hormone levels compared to oral administration 4

For adolescents and young women with chemotherapy or radiation-induced POI, transdermal estradiol patches (50-100 μg/day) are often used before considering testosterone supplementation 3, 5
Evaluate treatment effect after 3-6 months of therapy 6
Testosterone therapy should possibly be limited to 24 months due to limited long-term safety data 6
Annual clinical reviews are recommended, with particular attention to compliance and side effects 6, 7
No routine laboratory monitoring is required, but testing may be prompted by specific symptoms or concerns 7

For women with hypogonadism, transdermal testosterone can be given after discussion of theoretical risks 8
When monitoring testosterone levels in women, morning serum samples should be taken due to significant diurnal variation in levels 8
Free testosterone is a better index of gonadal status than total testosterone, though not all laboratories can measure it 8