Women's sex drive treatment linked to higher rates of heart attack and stroke

Postmenopausal women who use testosterone therapy could face a higher risk of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular problems, new research suggests.

The research, presented at the 2026 annual meeting of The Menopause Society last month in San Diego, looked at more than 6,000 postmenopausal women age 45 and older, comparing those who received testosterone therapy with those who did not. Women with a history of cardiovascular disease were excluded.

Among women receiving testosterone, 3.8% experienced a first-time cardiovascular event compared with 0.5% of women who were not receiving the treatment, according to The Menopause Society.

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Those events included heart attack, stroke, heart failure and other cardiovascular problems.

Testosterone is a sex hormone produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands that plays a role in sexual desire, as well as muscle and bone health, mood and cognition, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Postmenopausal women who use testosterone therapy could face a higher risk of heart attack, stroke and other heart problems. (iStock)

Anna Cabeca, a Dallas-based board-certified OB-GYN and menopause expert, told Fox News Digital that the differences between the two groups — women who received testosterone and those who did not — deserve attention.

"The difference between 3.8% and 0.5% is certainly significant enough to warrant attention, but we need to be careful about what these numbers actually tell us," said Cabeca, who was not involved in the study.

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That amounts to about 38 cardiovascular events per 1,000 women receiving testosterone compared with five per 1,000 women who were not, the doctor noted.

For women considering testosterone therapy, Cabeca said doctors should look at the patient's overall health, including heart history, blood pressure, cholesterol, metabolic health, medications and family history.

Testosterone is a sex hormone produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands that plays a role in sexual desire, as well as muscle and bone health, mood and cognition. (iStock)

"Sexual health is an essential part of overall health, and women deserve to have their concerns about libido, arousal and intimacy taken seriously, particularly during and after menopause," she added.

While testosterone can improve sexual desire and satisfaction in appropriately selected postmenopausal women, the possible benefits should be weighed against potential risks, Cabeca advised.

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In cases when testosterone is appropriate, she favors careful dosing, monitoring and regular checks of a patient's symptoms and lab results.

There are important limitations to the new findings, the researchers acknowledged.

When testosterone therapy is appropriate, experts recommend careful dosing, monitoring and regular assessments of a patient's symptoms and lab results. (iStock)

The study was observational, meaning the researchers looked at outcomes among women who were already receiving testosterone rather than assigning the treatment in a controlled trial.

As a result, the study can show a link between testosterone use and cardiovascular events, but cannot prove that the treatment caused them.

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Women who received testosterone may also have differed from those who did not in ways that affected their heart risk, including age, blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol levels or other health factors, Cabeca said.

"This is an important safety signal that deserves further investigation, not definitive evidence of causation," she added.

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Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment.

Deirdre Bardolf of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.

Kelly McGreal is a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. She and the team cover travel, food and drink, health, relationships and more. She also produces the weekly American Culture Quiz and handles other special projects.