How menopausal women are advocating for their sexual health with TRT: “My sparkle came back and I was finally able to smile again!”
Kate Winslet opened up about her choice to undergo testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), a decision she says has given her a new lease of life — and made her feel sexy again.
In a September 2024 episode of the podcast How to Fail with Elizabeth Day, The Regime star, 48, answered questions about a range of topics — including one from an anonymous woman about what she should do about no longer wanting to have sex with her boyfriend, after recently putting on weight and feeling unattractive.
The Oscar-winner told the listener: “Sometimes women have a real dip in libido because there might be stuff going on with their thyroid. There could also be stuff going on with your level of testosterone.
“A lot of people don’t know this, but women have testosterone in their body, when it runs out — like eggs — it’s gone. And once it’s gone you have to replace it, and that is something that can be done and you’ll feel sexy again. I know.”
She continued: “So there could be a dip in those hormonal levels for you that is actually contributing much more than you think to how you feel about having sex with your boyfriend, so I would definitely go ahead and do [TRT].”
But what is TRT, and how can it help women? Living360 got advice from a health expert and also spoke to a woman about her experience with the treatment.
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What’s testosterone replacement treatment?
As we enter menopause, our natural hormone production starts to decline for sex hormones like oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone. This can cause many disruptive symptoms that can affect your health and day-to-day life.
TRT involves putting testosterone back into the body to restore the optimal hormonal balance.
Dr Bruce Dorr, senior medical advisor at hormone replacement therapy company Biote, says: “A woman enters menopause when she’s not had her period for one year, usually around the age of 51, but the production of testosterone begins to decline well before then.
“In fact, by the time a woman reaches 40, testosterone blood levels have declined significantly.”
Testosterone can be delivered through a variety of methods including injections, patches, gels or pellets, which deliver a consistent dose over several months.
What can TRT help with?
You may be surprised to find out that testosterone is actually the most abundantly produced hormone in women, with Dr Dorr explaining that it “surpasses oestrogen levels by three to four times”. This is substantiated by a 2009 study published in PubMed.
Both oestrogen and testosterone hormones play important roles in the development and function of the reproductive organs, bones, heart, brain and liver.
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Dr Dorr says: “While we continue to learn about the benefits of testosterone treatment, the therapy may improve urogenital, psychological and somatic symptoms, may improve bone density, and may enhance cognitive performance.”
He adds that many patients report improvements in their mood, concentration, motivation and energy levels, after starting on TRT.
There’s evidence to suggest that preventive benefits may extend even further, meaning it could be in your best health interest to start TRT before menopause.
Dr Dorr explains: “A 10-year retrospective study of women who took testosterone via hormone pellets as part of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy had a 35.5% lower incidence of invasive breast cancer compared to an age-adjusted peer rate.”
Can TRT help with your libido?
Over half of women in menopause experience a form of sexual dysfunction, according to a 2021 study published in Women’s Midlife Health Journal.
Dr Dorr says that, unfortunately, women’s sexual health is a poorly misunderstood topic, and most patients who report these symptoms to their GP are typically prescribed antidepressants or marriage counselling, neither of which address the potential hormonal cause.
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Testosterone increases blood flow to the genitals as well as nerve sensitivity, meaning this decline negatively impacts libido, responsiveness and orgasm — so TRT could be a good route to go down if you’re experiencing low sex drive or an inability to climax.
A September 2024 study found that women who were testosterone-treated demonstrated significantly more improvement in satisfying sexual episodes, sexual desire, arousal, orgasms, sexual pleasure, self-image, personal distress, and sexual concerns, than those who didn’t undergo treatment.
What are some side effects of TRT to be aware of?
Though TRT has some great benefits, it’s important to be aware of any potential side effects.
These can vary from patient to patient, as all of us react differently to the introduction of external hormones.
Dr Dorr says: “Testosterone levels and replacements, which approximate levels that women in their 20s have, may result in patients seeing a return of the symptoms common at that time, such as oily skin or acne.
“If testosterone is given in excess, then unwanted hair growth, hair loss, excess genital sensitivity or clitoral growth can occur.”
When you look at any medicine, it’s about prescribing the right dose for the patient.
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Can women get TRT on the NHS?
The NHS website states that: TRT is not currently licenced for use in women, although it can be prescribed after the menopause by a specialist doctor if they think it might help restore your sex drive.
There are plenty of private services in the UK that also offer TRT for women, including Superdrug, for as low as £18.
‘I had TRT — this is what my experience was like’
After months of night sweats, hot flushes, sleep deprivation, anxiety, exhaustion and other debilitating symptoms, Wendy Connors’ doctor confirmed that she had started menopause at 52.
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Her testosterone levels were at rock bottom, and her symptoms were severe, but she says her physicians just wanted to medicate her, instead of addressing the root bottoms.
Wendy, from Westborough, Massachusetts, was also battling cancer. She continued to advocate for herself and her health — and found TRT in April 2022. Wendy said it “changed her world”.
She explains: “Within 10 days after receiving my first pellet insertion a light bulb went off. I couldn’t believe what was happening to me — my sparkle came back and I was finally able to smile again!”
Wendy shares her experience on the treatment on social media (@aloamum), so she can empower women all over the world.
She says, “I’m so grateful each and every day that I found Biote and testosterone therapy. I cannot begin to tell you how gratifying every single day has become.
“Please never ever lose hope and keep advocating for yourself.”
