Health
Testosterone therapy could help boost women's sex drive as they age, but risks exist, experts say
Celebrities’ use of testosterone to boost their sex drive could lead more women to try hormone replacement therapy (HRT), experts say.
Actress Kate Winslet recently revealed in an appearance on the “How to Fail” podcast with Elizabeth Day that a dip in libido could mean an imbalance in testosterone levels.
“A lot of people don’t know this, but women have testosterone in their body; when it runs out, like eggs, it’s gone,” the “Titanic” actress, 48, told a listener.
KATE WINSLET ADMITS TO USING TESTOSTERONE THERAPY TO ‘FEEL SEXY AGAIN’
“So, once it’s gone, you have to replace it, and that is something that can be done, and you’ll feel sexy again,” Winslet said.
“I know,” she added, without offering additional details.
Actress Kate Winslet recently revealed in an appearance on the “How to Fail” podcast with Elizabeth Day that a dip in libido could mean an imbalance in testosterone levels. (Felix Hörhager/picture alliance via Getty Images)
What to know about HRT
Hormone expert Dan Holtz, co-founder of the Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Center, echoed that HRT is used to “optimize hormone levels in men and women as they go through life.”
“Benefits may include better sleep, improved energy, less anxiety [and] improved metabolic rate,” he said in a response sent to Fox News Digital.
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Holtz has worked with numerous celebrities to optimize their hormone levels. He confirmed that many women and men have reported a “noticeable improvement in libido after optimizing testosterone.”
Some women have also reported an improvement in libido when correcting a deficiency in DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), a hormone the body produces in the adrenal gland, according to the expert.
One hormone expert said that many patients have reported a “noticeable improvement in libido after optimizing testosterone.” (iStock)
HRT is often referred to as menopause hormone therapy (MHT), a medical treatment to relieve menopause symptoms, according to women’s health and menopause expert Dr. Mary Claire Haver of Friendswood, Texas.
“As we approach menopause, the natural decline in estrogen, progesterone and testosterone can lead to symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, muscle and joint pain, brain fog, vaginal dryness and low libido,” she told Fox News Digital.
“Every woman’s situation is unique, and we need to balance the potential benefits against the risks.”
“For many women, these symptoms can severely affect their quality of life.”
Hormone therapy works by replenishing the estrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels that the body is no longer producing in sufficient amounts, Haver noted.
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“The goal is to alleviate symptoms by restoring health-promoting hormone levels, but MHT also has additional benefits, like maintaining bone density, which reduces the risk of osteoporosis – a concern for postmenopausal women,” she added.
Targeting testosterone
While women have much lower levels of testosterone compared to men, the hormone is “crucial” to maintaining libido and sexual function in females, according to Haver — in addition to boosting energy and mood.
When testosterone levels decline — which occurs as women grow older and approach menopause — a decrease in sexual desire, arousal and satisfaction can result, the expert said.
When testosterone levels decline — which occurs as women grow older and approach menopause — a decrease in sexual desire, arousal and satisfaction can result, studies show. (iStock)
That’s because the hormone acts on a key region of the brain involved in regulating sexual behavior, she added.
Studies have shown that for some women, boosting testosterone levels can lead to “noticeable improvements” in sexual health, Haver said.
“Women need to know that low libido is a legitimate medical concern, not just something they have to ‘push through.’”
“By increasing testosterone levels, these brain centers become more responsive to sexual stimuli, which can lead to an increase in libido,” she said.
Haver encouraged women who are experiencing low libido to consider testosterone therapy as part of a “broader treatment plan.”
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“The goal is to restore levels to the normal physiological range for women, improving sexual desire without pushing the body into a ‘male’ hormone profile,” she told Fox News Digital.
Potential risks
Mayo Clinic confirmed that testosterone therapy may boost sex drive for some women after menopause, but noted that there is limited research on its safety and long-term effectiveness.
It has also been shown to cause some side effects.
“Most often, other treatments are tried before testosterone,” the clinic stated on its website.
MHT can be a safe and effective option for women suffering from menopausal symptoms, said a women’s health expert, while others note that side effects may result. (iStock)
“These include low doses of the hormone estrogen, and a type of counseling called sex therapy. Some depression medicines also may boost sex drive.”
HRT is “not a one-size-fits-all solution,” and there are potential risks if it’s done inappropriately, Haver warned.
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“Studies have shown that estrogen-containing hormone therapy can increase the risk of certain conditions, such as blood clots and stroke,” the doctor said.
“Testosterone therapy can also increase the risk of unwanted hair growth, deepening of the voice and acne.”
Those risks can vary based on factors like the type of hormones used, the dosage, the delivery method and how long it’s administered, according to Haver.
Hormone therapy replenishes estrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels that the body is no longer producing in sufficient amounts, according to women’s health experts. (iStock)
“Every woman’s situation is unique, and we need to balance the potential benefits against the risks, with the proper dosage, formulations and delivery system.”
Haver recommends MHT for women who are within 10 years of menopause onset and are under 60 years old — “particularly for those suffering from moderate to severe symptoms.”
Interdisciplinary care
Some women can feel “dismissed or not fully supported” when discussing sexual health concerns with medical providers, Haver noted.
“Sexual function in women can be influenced by hormones, neurotransmitters, mental health, relationship dynamics and even chronic medical conditions,” she said.
HRT can be administered in a variety of ways, including as an injection, pill, topical patch, gel or spray. (iStock)
Effective treatment addresses these root causes rather than just offering “superficial fixes,” she said.
“Women need to know that low libido is a legitimate medical concern, not just something they have to ‘push through.’”
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For those interested in HRT, Holtz suggested finding a well-established and reputable company or provider with a track record of success.
Haver added that it’s essential for women to have a thorough discussion with their medical provider to assess their specific health needs and determine the best treatment plan.
Fox News Digital’s Caroline Thayer contributed to this report.
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As colorectal cancer (CRC) is now the leading cause of cancer death in adults under 50, a new report reveals some surprising shifts in the incidence of the disease.
Although rates of CRC have been declining among seniors, those 65 and under are facing a rise in diagnoses, according to a report titled Colorectal Cancer Statistics, 2026, from the American Cancer Society.
Adults 65 and younger comprise nearly half (45%) of all new colorectal cancer cases — a significant increase from 27% in 1995, states the report, which was published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
The disease is rising fastest among adults 20 to 49 years old, at a rate of 3% per year.
Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in adults under 50. (iStock)
Among adults 50 and under, 75% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Half of the diagnoses in that age range are made between the ages of 45 and 49. Although that age group is eligible to receive routine screenings, just 37% do so.
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The report also revealed that rectal cancer is on the rise, now accounting for about one-third (32%) of all CRC cases — an increase from 27% in the mid-2000s.
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“After decades of progress, the risk of dying from colorectal cancer is climbing in younger generations of men and women, confirming a real uptick in disease because of something we’re doing or some other exposure,” said Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director, surveillance research at the American Cancer Society and lead author of the report, in a press release.
Among adults 50 and under, 75% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Half of the diagnoses in that age range are made between the ages of 45 and 49. (iStock)
“We need to redouble research efforts to understand the cause, but also circumvent deaths through earlier detection by educating clinicians and the general public about symptoms and increasing screening in people 45-54 years.”
It is projected that 158,850 new cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed this year, and that the disease will cause 55,230 deaths, per the report.
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More than half of CRC cases can be linked to high-risk behaviors, the researchers said. Those include lack of nutrition, high alcohol consumption, smoking, lack of exercise and obesity.
“These findings further underscore that colorectal cancer is worsening among younger generations and highlight the immediate need for eligible adults to begin screening at the recommended age of 45,” said Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer at the American Cancer Society.
When the disease is caught at a local (early) stage, the five-year survival rate is 95%. (iStock)
“The report also shines a light on the crucial importance of continued funding for research to help discover new therapies to treat the disease and advance patient care.”
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When the disease is caught at a local (early) stage, the five-year survival rate is 95%, the report stated.
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A new study suggests that middle-aged men may be more vulnerable to faster biological aging, potentially linked to exposure to “forever chemicals.”
The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Aging, examined how perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, more commonly known as PFAS, could impact aging at the cellular level.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals commonly used in nonstick cookware, food packaging, water-resistant fabrics and other consumer products, the study noted.
Their chemical structure makes them highly resistant to breaking down, allowing them to accumulate in water, soil and the human body.
Chinese researchers analyzed blood samples from 326 adults enrolled in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2000.
A new study suggests that middle-aged men could face accelerated biological aging at the cellular level due to exposure to PFAS. (iStock)
The researchers measured levels of 11 PFAS compounds in participants’ blood and used DNA-based “epigenetic clocks” — tools that analyze chemical changes to DNA to estimate biological age — to determine how quickly their bodies were aging at the cellular level, the study stated.
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Two compounds, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA), were detected in 95% of participants.
Higher concentrations of those chemicals were associated with faster biological aging in men of certain age groups, but not in women.
“People should not panic.”
The compounds most strongly linked to accelerated aging were not the PFAS chemicals that typically receive the most public attention, the researchers noted.
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“The associations were strongest in adults aged 50 to 64, particularly in men,” Dr. Xiangwei Li, professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and the study’s corresponding author, told Fox News Digital.
“While this does not establish that PFAS cause aging, it suggests that these widely present ‘forever chemicals’ may be linked to molecular changes related to long-term health and aging.”
The study found that two of the compounds were detected in 95% of participants, and higher levels were linked to faster biological aging in men ages 50–64. (iStock)
Midlife may represent a more sensitive biological period, when the body becomes more vulnerable to age-related stressors, according to the researchers.
Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, may influence biological aging markers, potentially increasing vulnerability to environmental pollutants.
While Li said “people should not panic,” she does recommend looking for reasonable ways to reduce exposure.
That might mean checking local drinking water reports, using certified water filters designed to reduce PFAS, and limiting the use of stain- or grease-resistant products when alternatives are available.
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Meaningful reductions in PFAS exposure will likely depend on broader regulatory action and environmental cleanup efforts, Li added.
The researchers noted that midlife could be a particularly sensitive stage, when the body is more susceptible to stressors associated with aging. (iStock)
Study limitations
The researchers outlined several important limitations of the research, including that the findings show an association, but do not prove that PFAS directly causes accelerated aging.
“The study is cross-sectional, meaning exposure and aging markers were measured at the same time, so we cannot determine causality,” Li told Fox News Digital.
The study was also relatively small, limited to 326 adults age 50 or older, which means the findings may not apply to younger people or broader populations.
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Researchers measured PFAS levels using data collected between 1999 and 2000, and today’s exposure patterns may differ.
Li added that while PFAS is known to persist in the environment and the body, these results should be validated through larger, more recent studies that follow participants over time.
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